Mortgage Advisors & Lending | Texas Credit Union

Mortgage Loan Manager

Jessica Wooten

Jessica, a native of Beaumont, TX, graduated from Central Senior High School and obtained an associate degree in business administration from New Vista College. With a strong background in loan services administration and project coordination, she joined Education First in 2020 as a Mortgage Loan Servicing Representative, eventually advancing to the role of Mortgage Loan Manager.

 “I have an overall love and passion for helping community members reach their goal of homeownership and become financially successful. I love working at Education First because the staff shares my passion for wanting to help our members however we can.”

Jessica currently holds the role of treasurer of EFFCU's Catalyst Young Professional Group. She is a proud mother of two. On her days off, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, and studying real estate, as she is currently enrolled at LIT for an associate degree in real estate.  

Talk to Jessica Wooten today:

(409) 896-8554

jwooten@educationfirstfcu.org

Click here to request an appointment

Mortgage Loan Officer

Simona Nikolaeva-Placentia

Simona Nikolaeva-Placentia is originally from Sofia, Bulgaria. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Business with a major in Supply Chain and Logistics Management from Rasmussen University, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude. Her career began at Education First as a contact center agent, where she developed invaluable skills in member services and customer support. This foundation and her passion for helping others naturally led her to the mortgage industry.

“I am passionate about delivering exceptional customer service through timely assistance, helpful guidance, and reliable product education. Helping community members purchase the home of their dreams and build their futures is truly rewarding."

Simona and her husband are proud parents of three sons and a daughter, and they cherish their weekends together. In addition to her family and career, she volunteers as the worship director at Northpoint Community Church, sharing her love for music and faith with others. She also enjoys learning new languages—she is fluent in Bulgarian and English and is continuing to develop her proficiency in Spanish.

Connect with Simona today:

(409) 896-8564

snikolaeva@educationfirstfcu.org

Click here to make an appointment

Mortgage Loan Officer

Grace Rigby

Grace Rigby began her journey with Education First in February 2023 as a Business Lending Assistant. Her passion for learning and development led her to transition into the role of Instructional Design Specialist in August 2023, where she played a key role in training initiatives. In September 2024, Grace discovered her enthusiasm for the mortgage industry when she joined the Mortgage department as a Loan Processor. Her dedication and quick adaptability earned her a promotion to Mortgage Loan Officer in February 2025.

With experience spanning multiple departments within the credit union, Grace brings a well-rounded perspective to member service. Her top priority is building strong connections and providing personalized financial solutions to help members achieve their homeownership goals.

Beyond work, Grace is a proud cat mom and an avid bookworm. She enjoys reading, spending quality time with family and friends, and traveling to new destinations.