2026RIC: October Breakfast - Transaction Panel

Widely known for her strategic leadership, growth focused, transformational capabilities, and business development, Jenni Lee Crocker is the South Leader of Alliant Insurance Services, a top 5 broker.

With 30 years of experience in the insurance industry, Jenni Lee oversaw over 300 acquisitions in 4 years. She served on the Board of Directors of PCF Insurance/Trucordia on the Audit Committee and Governance Committee. After taking PCF Insurance/ Trucordia through a transaction at $1B revenue, she took on the role of South Leader for Alliant Insurance Services. She leverages her extensive experience and private company board expertise to consistently drive every organization towards super charged growth.

Tom is a Managing Partner and Co-Founder of Blue Heron Capital. He is a member of the Investment Committee and actively participates in the oversight of investments in ShiftMed, Verato, Insightin Health, Authenticx, Yes Hearing, Kion, and Redi Health. He led Blue Heron’s investment in Avizia which was sold to American Well in 2018, and Verisma, which Blue Heron successfully exited in December 2021. 

Tom has spent the past 30+ years building and managing an extensive network of investors. For more than a decade, he has focused on healthcare and technology growth equity investing, private placements, and advisory services.   Prior to co-founding Blue Heron Capital, Tom co-founded Benedetti & Farris, a full-service fundraising and special event planning firm. 

Tom holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Government from the College of William & Mary and earned his MBA at Georgetown University. He and his wife Liz reside in Richmond, Virginia with their three children.

Will Krusen is President of Falcon Affiliates, where he manages Falcon’s investment process as well as the Firm’s involvement with portfolio companies. His background includes investing in private companies and partnerships, corporate strategy, general management, and corporate finance and M&A. He has worked on financings and acquisitions ranging in size from $10 million to greater than $1billion.

Prior to founding Falcon, Krusen was a Managing Director with Raymond James Financial (NYSE:RJF) in the Proprietary Capital department reporting to and working with the CEO and CFO. Prior to Raymond James, Krusen worked for Catterton Partners, a leading private equity firm, and began his career as an investment banker with Deutsche Bank in New York.

Krusen holds an AB in Economics from Princeton University and an MBA from Harvard University. He is active with the Young President’s Organization (YPO), the Association for Corporate Growth (ACG), the Princeton Alumni Association, and is a trustee of the Boys & Girls Clubs and St. Christopher’s School, both in Richmond.

Heidi Nel is a family office executive and seasoned cross-sector operator with experience spanning private capital, public policy, media, and strategic communications.

She currently serves as CEO of a private single-family office, where she brings the same long-term, values-aligned approach to capital stewardship that has defined her career.

Heidi brings over 15 years of general management experience and is known for building infrastructure, managing complexity, and leading across mission-driven and growth-stage environments. She brings operational depth and narrative fluency to capital strategy—aligning investments with long-term value creation and generational stewardship.

She graduated from North Carolina School of the Arts, and was an adjunct instructor at Duke University’s Sanford School of Public Policy. She holds certificates from Wharton Executive Education in Private Wealth Management and Private Equity, and from Berkeley Law’s Venture Capital University. Originally from South Africa, she lives in Richmond, Virginia, with her family.