Not Just Another Insurance Company
By Brittany Bousquet New London Main Street Intern
June 26, 2012

Meet Crystal Rose Cathcart. Originally from Seattle, she has spent most of her life living in Norwich and New London. She attended and graduated from Norwich Free Academy and Three Rivers Community College. She has always been involved in the New London community, and she likes that the community is full of young people. At only 28 years old, she runs her own insurance agency – Whaling City Insurance.

Insurance wasn’t always Crystal’s plan. Initially she worked at an animal hospital and had a knack for working with pets and their owners. From the animal hospital, she transitioned to New England Financial, which was just supposed to be an in-between job while she figured out what she wanted to do next. However, she quickly learned that she thrived in the insurance business. She even had the opportunity to open a branch in Hamden. But life insurance wasn’t a perfect fit. Barbara Neff connected Crystal with Gregg Swanson of Swanson and Dragoli Insurance, and she has been with them ever since.

It was through another family friend that Crystal ended up in New London. Two years ago George Clarke decided to retire, and he needed somewhere to bring his clients. He ended up in contact with Crystal and Swanson and Dragoli Insurance, and they took over George’s clientele. Initially the business was based out of Waterford, where the main Swanson and Dragoli office is located, but the plan was always to establish a New London office. They began looking for a downtown location last November. Earlier this year, they were able to work out an arrangement with Klingerman Travel on Bank Street, who agreed to move next door in order to allow for the right space for Whaling City Insurance to move in. Finally, a New London location had been found, and they officially opened their doors in April 2012.

Whaling City Insurance is the only insurance agency in downtown New London, and Crystal feels that settling in has been great. She’s found the community to be welcoming. She feels that being in New London is an absolute advantage. Coastal insurance can be chaotic, and she offers her clients the opportunity to consider a wide range of options.

Whaling City Insurance handles mostly personal and commercial insurance. They offer home and auto renters, boat, motorcycle, wedding, commercial and workman’s comp and life insurance. The main Swanson and Dragoli office can be found in Waterford, CT, and there are satellite offices in Mystic, Colchester, Plainfield and, of course, New London. Their philosophy is to focus on the community in which they are located, which is why Whaling City Insurance is named Whaling City Insurance and not Swanson and Dragoli.

Whaling City Insurance is open Monday through Friday from 9am to 5pm (except for Tuesdays when they open at 9:30am). Whaling City Insurance does have a Facebook page, and a website is in the works. Until their website is up and running, you can visit www.swansonins.com for more information.

Whaling City Insurance
9 Bank Street
New London, CT
860-443-5351
http://www.facebook.com/WhalingCityInsurance