Cortney is the Executive Director of CitySeed, a nonprofit organization based in New Haven, Connecticut, whose mission is to engage the community in growing an equitable, local food system that promotes economic development, community development, and sustainable agriculture. In this role, Cortney oversees strategy and vision of the organization, development and communications, financial management, and coalition building with a variety of stakeholders including farmers, food entrepreneurs, elected officials, and partners organizations. 

Cortney brings a decade of multidisciplinary leadership within nonprofits, think tanks, and startups to this role including Feeding America, the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, and Sir Kensington's. Cortney received her B.A. in Peace and Conflict Studies from Colgate University. She earned her Master of Environmental Management from the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies where she focused on climate change and food systems, co-founded the Regenerative Agriculture Initiative and was involved in entrepreneurship and innovation initiatives at CBEY and Tsai CITY.