Cortney is the Executive Director of Proofing Station, a nonprofit investment fund increasing access to capital for small and mid-sized entities in the Midwest regional food and agriculture supply chain.

Cortney is a seasoned leader driving change in the food system. She's rooted in 15 years of multidisciplinary experience in research, sustainability, strategy, and fundraising roles in diverse social impact organizations including CitySeed, Feeding America, Sir Kensington's, the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, and Slow Food. Cortney received her B.A. in Peace and Conflict Studies from Colgate University, focused on international social justice. She earned her Master of Environmental Management from the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies where she co-founded the Regenerative Agriculture Initiative and was involved in entrepreneurship and innovation initiatives.