Aurora Insurance now a father/son agency

■ Matt Shaw leaves construction career, returns to Aurora

by Kurt Johnson

An Aurora company wrote the script this summer on a “Bring the Talent Back Home” concept designed to boost the rural Nebraska workforce.
Matt Shaw grew up in Aurora, graduated a Husky in 1989 and went on to earn a degree in construction management from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. His career took off, not surprisingly, taking him to Austin, Texas, where he worked for Flintco, a large commercial general contractor.
Shaw was living happily with his wife, Dawn, a native of Austin, and their two young children. He wasn’t really looking for new opportunity, but as it turned out opportunity was looking for him.
Shaw’s father, Doug, has owned and operated Aurora Insurance, an independent agency offering a full line of home, auto, commercial, farm, life and health insurance since 1988. At age 62, Doug has begun thinking about the long-term future of his business, which led to a conversation with his son.
“I’m a long way from retirement, but it’s a situation where Matt was looking to move back to the territory,” Doug recalled. “This business has provided a living for Anita and I and our family. It has a great client base and we appreciate the trust and loyalty in what has become a very competitive business.”
Doug and Anita pitched the idea to their son and his family, who thought long and hard about a major change of life.
“Quality of life is the bottom line,” Matt explained. “I had a great job, but it was a very demanding and time-consuming career. The hours in that world were whatever it took. This is just a more steady environment and a great place to raise a family.”
 

For complete story see this week's issue of the Aurora News-Register.