ALS Success

AURORA LOAN SERVICES

Star-Herald

April 2, 2004

Aurora Loan Services Expanding Into Gering

"Aurora Loan Services will expand in a new Gering location, relocating approximately 70 of its employees to a refurbished Lockwood building, officials announced this week.

Rawnda Pierce, Executive Director of Twin Cities Development, said she was told in February that Aurora was looking for temporary space. After looking at a couple of locations, the company determined that the Lockwood building might be the best fit.

'We've been working on it for the last couple months and utilized about 95 cubicles from the former Sykes building,' she said.

Recently, the building got new carpeting and paint.

According to Robert Simpson, Executive Vice President with Aurora, more employees will be hired at both company locations. He said the loan servicing operation simply outgrew its current space.

'In order to accommodate that loan servicing, they need to add more people, and their current facility wouldn't allow for that expansion,' said Pierce.

She said approximately 16,000 square feet of the building will be utilized. Pierce said that is about three-quarters of the available office space. Not all the space would be used at one time, said Pierce, which will leave the company space for future growth.

Two other businesses operate out of the former agricultural/irrigation manufacturing site.

The space that will be used by Aurora has not been used for approximately five years.

'It's long overdue and we've done a lot of work to get it ready for this,' said Pierce.

Gering Courier

April 1, 2004

Aurora Coming To Gering

"Workers are laying computer lines, painting walls, and preparing the old Lockwood building east of Gering for a new tenant. In a few weeks the old building will become the home for 70 employees of Aurora Loan Services as the company opens a new office in Gering.

'We have outgrown our Scottsbluff facility and require expansion space," Robert Simpson, Executive Vice-President with Aurora Loan Services, said.

"We will have approximately 340 employees after the 70 employees relocate to the Lockwood facility," Simpson said. "We plan to continue hiring at both sites."

"We have been working with them throughout the process to help with their temporary space needs," Twin Cities Development Executive Director Rawnda Pierce said. "We hired a crew to set up the cubicles, helped facilitate between the company and the building owner to get some improvements made such as the carpet installed and to get the cable installers and phone guys on the property, etc."

"I am excited to hear they are coming to Gering," Gering Mayor Starr Lehl said. "This means a lot to our community. I think all Gering businesses will benefit from 70 employees (in Gering)."

"It means more jobs for the community," Pierce added. "Whether TCD works with new companies or ones already in the community, we're there to help with their needs. We meet with the various company officials and help coordinate efforts to make it easier for them."

"The space (in the Lockwood building) has been vacant for a little over five years," Pierce said. With the arrival of Aurora Loan Services only part of the warehouse remains vacant at the old Lockwood building. George Risk and a tortilla manufacturer (also) utilize a portion of the building.

"The company started in 1935 as Platte valley Federal Savings & Loan in Gering," Simpson said. "In the early 1980's Platte Valley Mortgage and Platte Valley Commercial Corporation relocated to Aurora , Colorado . Aurora Loan Services is recognized as one of the nation's leading mortgage companies with over 1,500 employees nationally. Aurora specializes in the first and second mortgages from mortgage bankers on a servicing released basis."

"It is very nice," Gering City Council Representative Alice Wineman said, to see a business that started in Gering return to Gering with 70 employees."

Star-Herald

March 11, 2004

Women's Organization Recognizes Aurora Loan Services As Employer of the Year

Aurora Loan Services in Scottsbluff earned recognition Wednesday from a local women's organization for policies that benefit its female employees.

The Panhandle Business and Professional Women's organization honored Aurora Loan Services with the "Employer of the Year" Award.

Rosalie Kramer, District IV BPW Director, said women make up 90 percent of the employees at Aurora Loan Services. Women also hold many supervisory, managerial and vice-president positions in the company, which provides potential for advancement.

Company policies are also a great benefit to the women employed at the company, she said. A flextime program allows women to adjust their hours to be able to care for their children. The company also sponsors a leave-sharing program and allows parents to use sick-leave time to care for children. Job training programs help women train for their jobs, be reimbursed for tuition and allow learning of skills that are transferable throughout the company.

Robert Simpson, Executive Vice-President at Aurora Loan Serices accepted the award on behalf of the company. He said the company focuses on providing good programs and benefits to its employees.

"I believe it is in the culture of our organization. We are very family-oriented.We want healthy, happy employees. If they're happy and healthy, they're more productive," he said.

Panhandle BPW has been recognizing local businesses for providing equal opportunity programs since 1984. The last four businesses recognized also received the Nebraska Employer of the Year Award: Medical Equipment Specialties, Regional Radiation Oncology, Northfield Villa, Inc. and TierOne Bank.