Staff

See below for a staff email directory. If you are not sure who to contact, please email info@ctnc.org.

Cynthia Satterfield

Bio

Driven by a passion for her home state, its nature, and its people, Cynthia Satterfield leads CTNC in finding just equitable solutions to land conservation. A native North Carolinian who grew up on the banks of the Eno River, Cynthia believes that building climate and community resilience, improving health outcomes, and ensuring economic prosperity for all North Carolinians are critical. Cynthia graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill with a BA in English and Anthropology and earned her MBA from East Carolina University.

Anna Behnke

Conservation Outreach Associate
anna@ctnc.org

Bio

Anna supports CTNC’s outreach and communications efforts, helping connect people with conservation through newsletters, blog posts, social media, photography, and other storytelling initiatives. She captures North Carolina’s landscapes, wildlife, protected properties, and CTNC events to showcase the impact of conservation across the state.

Raised along the Catawba River, Anna developed an early appreciation for the Piedmont’s forests and waterways. Summers spent exploring the pocosins, marshes, and coastal refuges of eastern North Carolina deepened her passion for the state’s diverse ecosystems and wildlife. She is grateful to work for an organization dedicated to protecting North Carolina’s natural heritage from the mountains to the coast.

Anna earned a B.S. in Conservation Biology from North Carolina State University and a Master of Natural Resources from Virginia Tech. Originally from Charlotte, she now lives in Salisbury with her fiancé and two cats, Benny and Obi. In her free time, she enjoys bird and wildlife photography, beachcombing for shells and shark teeth along the Carolina coast, exploring public lands, and crocheting.

Aaron Flannery

Western Conservation Manager
aaron@ctnc.org

Bio

Aaron joined CTNC in January 2023 and primarily conducts field work as a member of the Land Protection department. With a strong emphasis on establishing and maintaining positive relationships within the communities of Western North Carolina, most of his duties are heavily tied to conservation efforts in proximity to the Blue Ridge Parkway and U.S. Forest Service lands. In addition to advocating for the preservation of natural mountain environments for CTNC, Aaron is also responsible for conducting interpretative and educational programming as Park Naturalist at Mount Mitchell State Park, the highest point east of the Mississippi River.

Aaron holds a life-long passion for learning, having earned a B.S. in Organizational Leadership and a M.A. in School Counseling. In previous years, he has served Appalachian students as a school counselor, with specific areas of interest including geographic isolation, rural poverty, and the first-generation college experience. Living in the Blue Ridge Mountains often leads Aaron into the outdoors for exploration and there you may find him hiking to scenic vistas and waterfalls or fishing for brook trout in a cold-water stream. Aaron has a strong appreciation for Appalachian culture and an enthusiastic interest in traditional mountain music, whereas he studies old-time banjo locally with other musicians.

Hallie French

Donor Engagement Manager
hallie@ctnc.org

Bio

Hallie joined the CTNC team in 2024 where she serves as Donor Engagement Manager. Born and raised in the heart of rural Eastern North Carolina, Hallie grew up with a deep love for her home state and the natural beauty of the Albemarle-Pamlico Peninsula. Hallie is equally passionate about serving the people who live, love, and struggle in our state. After graduating from UNC-Chapel Hill with a BA in English and a minor in Literature, Medicine, and Culture, she served two AmeriCorps terms focused on education and literacy access, the first of which she served in her home community. Hallie joins the CTNC team on the heels of her time at UNC-Chapel Hill, where she worked on programs related to innovation, economic development, and fundraising. In her free time, you can find her curled up with a book, hiking along the Eno, making art, writing, and adding new birds to her life list. She and her two cats, Max and Dot, are based in Carrboro.

Beth Mullenberg

Resilience Program Director

beth@ctnc.org

Bio

Beth serves as a Resilience Program Director, supporting projects across North Carolina by identifying needs, helping to parse big dreams into bite-sized goals, and pulling the details into a bigger picture. She has a B.S. degree from NC State in Floriculture, is a certified Project Management Professional, and is a member of ICF. She’s relentlessly curious about just about everything, thinks all food tastes better outside, and will lovingly challenge every established norm. She lives outside of Raleigh with her husband, two nearly grown children, and a dog that thinks he can fly.

Rusty Painter

Land Protection Director
rusty@ctnc.org

Bio

Rusty oversees CTNC’s land protection efforts along the Blue Ridge Parkway and our collaborative partnerships with local land trusts. Rusty holds a master's degree in forestry and a Master of Environmental Management from the Nicholas School of the Environment at Duke University. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in biology from Wake Forest University. In his spare time, Rusty enjoys activities with his wife, son, and dog including hiking, canoeing, and mountain biking. His passion for conservation stems from a lifelong enjoyment of outdoor activities.

Stephen Payne

Finance Director
info@ctnc.org

Bio

Steve manages CTNC’s finance department. Steve graduated from Rutgers with a BS degree in accounting. He started his career spending over nine years in a CPA firm before moving on to the nonprofit world. Steve spent 23 years at Integrity House where he rose to the position of VP-Finance before two stints as Controller at other nonprofits. Steve and his wife moved to North Carolina to be closer to their two sons. Steve was the Finance Director at a local Montessori school before joining CTNC. He enjoys driving around the countryside and taking in the local sites.