Jessica Kennington began her college journey with the goal of pursuing a career in criminal justice. But just before completing her bachelor’s degree, a major life event reshaped her future.

“I became a mom,” Kennington said. “I realized I couldn’t work those shifts in criminal justice and still be present for my little ones. So I pivoted. I asked myself: what classes do I enjoy the most, and what could that lead me to in the future? Psychology stood out, and that eventually led me into social work.”

In addition to wanting a career that allowed her to balance family and work, Jessica also dreamed of becoming her own boss, making her own schedule, and answering only to herself.

“From there, I set my mind on one day owning my own practice,” she said.

After graduating, she made that dream a reality. She founded Moonbrook Mind & Body Integrative Services in Texarkana, where she took a whole-health approach to therapy — addressing not only mental health and trauma, but also fitness, nutrition, complex medical conditions, and group support.

“Everything is uniquely tailored — each session, each treatment plan, each goal,” Kennington said. “The best part is watching clients achieve those goals, seeing their suffering decrease and their enjoyment of life increase. That’s what keeps me going.”

At first, Moonbrook operated from a small office — enough in the early days, but eventually too limiting.

“In this field, growth isn’t just about clients; it’s also about physical space,” she said. “You can only see so many people in one room each week, so eventually I maxed out my schedule.”

Rising rent added more pressure. Her original flat-rate lease ballooned after downtown property values surged — first jumping by one and a half times in a single year, then climbing an additional 3% each year after.

“I rented another single office and thought maybe I could just add another room as I hired, but that quickly proved too expensive — and sometimes the building didn’t even have extra space available,” she recalled.

As she added staff, they were forced to share offices, alternating between in-person and virtual schedules — a short-term fix Kennington knew wasn’t sustainable. That’s when she began considering ownership instead of renting

Her search for a loan led her to Communities Unlimited (CU). CU’s work in the East Texas region — including the efforts of both the Lending and Entrepreneurship Teams — is made possible through funding from the T.L.L. Temple Foundation.

When she first connected with CU’s Lending Team, Senior Economic Development Loan Officer Chris Ranniger saw that Kennington wasn’t fully loan-ready. She was still working through back taxes, family budgeting, and financial management systems — common hurdles for small business owners. Instead of turning her away, Ranniger referred her to work with the CU Entrepreneurship Team and Management Consultant Trent Thomason.

Thomason got to work preparing Kennington for success. Beginning in April 2025, they tackled her back taxes by verifying balances, setting up payment plans, and creating systems to ensure future compliance. Together, they built a comprehensive family budget that accounted for both personal and business expenses — including an emergency fund. Finally, they developed three-year financial projections that modeled revenue, expenses, and growth plans for Moonbrook’s expansion.

With her financial house in order, Kennington returned to Ranniger and the CU Lending Team in June. This time, she was ready — and she received the funding needed to purchase her own building. The expansion would allow for simultaneous sessions, new hires, and sustainable growth while reducing Kennington’s own caseload so she could focus on scaling the practice.

Kennington was quick to praise CU’s support for being able to make that growth happen.

“Working with Trent on the financial side opened my eyes,” she said. “I realized my business had come further than I thought. Those first years you’re usually operating at a loss, but we had gotten to the point where sustainability was real.”

Kennington explained that emerging from the COVID era brought new challenges, including understanding taxes and financial structuring — areas she hadn’t fully mastered. CU guided her through those complexities, offering support without judgment while keeping her accountable, which she said was exactly what she needed.

Today, Kennington has the keys to Moonbrook’s new home — a nearly 1,800-square-foot building with five individual offices, a major upgrade from her original 400-square-foot space.

“It’s not just about space; it’s about opportunity,” she said. “When I first started, I just wanted to work for myself. But over time, this has grown into a bigger vision — one where I can employ others, expand services, and help meet the mental health needs of our community. It’s not just about me anymore. It’s about creating a positive culture, giving back, and helping others grow in their careers too.”

Thomason reflected that the project’s success stemmed from strong teamwork and communication across CU’s teams. He also gave ample credit to Kennington.

“Jessica was tenacious,” Thomason said. “She was resilient and faced the challenges head on. Credit to her for not giving up, persevering, and continuing to show up and get things done.”

Looking ahead, Kennington envisions an even brighter future for Moonbrook. She’s focused on cultivating a strong, supportive staff culture as the practice continues to grow. Owning the building, she explained, provides the solid foundation she’s always wanted — one that will allow her to expand services, retain talented therapists, and foster an environment where both clients and staff feel valued and supported.

Kennington reflected on her experience working with both the Entrepreneurship and Lending Teams at CU, describing it as transformative for her business and her confidence as an owner.