Crystal & Company Expands into Orange County

National Insurance Brokerage to Deliver Employee Benefits Solutions for Local Businesses & Nonprofits

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Crystal & Company, a leading strategic risk and insurance advisor, announced the opening of an Orange County office to meet the needs of a growing marketplace. The new office is located in Newport Beach and will be led by Nick Del Biaggio, who has recently been appointed the market leader responsible for Crystal & Company’s Southern California operations.

As a full service insurance brokerage firm, Crystal & Company addresses risk management and employee benefit consulting needs for clients across various industries. The firm was recently ranked among the top 25 largest US brokers by Business Insurance. The new Orange County team is made up primarily of employee benefits professionals with experience delivering customized, multi-year benefits strategies to help businesses attract and retain talented employees.

“We have been experiencing rapid growth throughout Southern California,” said Shawn Ram, Executive Managing Director and Western Region Leader at Crystal & Company. “Nick has played an instrumental role in our expansion strategy and we are thrilled to have this exceptional group of professionals join the California team.”

The Orange County team includes:

• Nick Del Biaggio: Del Biaggio is responsible for developing and increasing the team of knowledgeable sales professionals throughout Southern California. He has more than 20 years of experience in the insurance industry.
• Joanie Gunning: Gunning, who has 18 years of experience in the insurance industry, provides brokerage and consulting services in Group Benefits, Executive Benefits and Retirement Services and HR Operations Support, working collaboratively with clients across industries to provide customized solutions for business and human capital needs. She is a member of the OCEBC (Orange County Employee Benefits Council).
• Derek Moore: Moore has over 18 years of experience as an employee benefits consultant, with a focus on the restaurant industry. He has been a keynote speaker at various conferences and tradeshows for companies including Burger King, Del Taco, KFC, and the Tortilla Industry Association, where he discussed topical employee benefits issues.
• Kelly Peterson: Peterson, the first member to join Crystal & Company’s Newport Beach office, has more than 20 years of industry experience. She serves a diverse sector of nonprofits, placing property and casualty coverages to address the unique exposures they face. She works with the Institute for Influential Community Impact, created and funded in concert with major Orange County Business and Community Leaders.
• Kyle Shallahamer: Shallahamer is focused on advising Southern California companies on their employee benefits needs, including group benefits, executive benefits and retirement services and HR operations support. He has more than 16 years of experience in the industry.
• Renée Wingert: Wingert is an employee benefits consultant with more than 17 years of experience in the industry. Her emphasis is on overall planning and direction of group insurance plans for public entities, nonprofits, and private sector organizations. She is a member of the League of California Cities, Society for Human Resource Management, and the California City Management Foundation.

About Crystal & Company

Crystal & Company is a leading strategic risk and insurance advisor, addressing clients' risk management, insurance brokerage, and employee benefits consulting needs. The firm is comprised of more than 400 professionals, distinguished by their technical expertise and industry-specific knowledge, driven by their passion for client service. A national firm, placing over $1 billion in premiums annually in the global insurance marketplace, Crystal & Company is headquartered in New York with 10 regional offices throughout the country. Established in 1933, the company has sustained its independence through 80 years and three generations of Crystal family ownership and management.

Crystal & Company is a member of Brokerslink, a global alliance of leading independent insurance brokerages spanning more than 80 countries and 300 cities across the world. Visit www.crystalco.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160407005949/en/

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For Crystal & Company

John Eddy, 212-319-3451, ext. 648

[email protected]

Source: Crystal & Company