The Journey So Far: Meet Whitney Cantrell
Foundation & Heritage
Born and raised in Hubert, Whitney has called Onslow County home her entire life. Both of her grandfathers came to the area through their service in the United States Marine Corps and chose to make Onslow County home, where their families grew and future generations were raised.
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A graduate of Swansboro High School, Whitney married her high school sweetheart, a Marine Corps combat veteran. During his enlistment, they were stationed in Hawaii, but when his military service ended, they knew where they wanted to be. They returned to Onslow County to raise their family.
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Today, Whitney and her husband are raising their two children in the same community where she grew up. Having experienced Onslow County as a child, a military spouse, a parent, and a small-business operator, Whitney understands both the opportunities and challenges that come with calling this county home. She values the character of our communities and wants future generations to have the same opportunity to build their lives here.
Professional Excellence
Whitney grew up in her family’s third-generation business, Excel Body Works, which has served the Jacksonville community since 1962. Today, she helps lead the day-to-day operations of the collision repair facility and two towing companies, giving her firsthand experience in what it takes to keep a small business running, employees working, and customers taken care of.
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Her responsibilities span budgeting, payroll, human resources, insurance, contracts, estimating, fleet management, 24/7 dispatch, regulatory compliance, automotive refinishing, and accident response. She has also built extensive technical knowledge within the collision repair and towing industries, earning I-CAR Platinum recognition, WreckMaster, professional certifications in Sherwin-Williams Automotive Refinishing, and serving as a North Carolina Notary Public, while helping the collision repair facility maintain I-CAR Gold Class status and multiple OEM manufacturer certifications.
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Whitney’s leadership style has always been shoulder to shoulder. She believes a strong leader should understand the work, support the people doing it, and be willing to step into any position necessary to keep the team moving forward. For Whitney, professional excellence is about more than titles or certifications. It is about accountability, problem-solving, responsible decision-making, and recognizing that every decision can directly impact employees, families, customers, and the community.
Community & Service
For Whitney, community service has never been about simply having her name on a membership list. It has been about showing up, getting involved, and giving her time, treasure, or talent where she or her business resources can make a difference.
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For more than five years, Whitney has served as a Guardian ad Litem, advocating for children involved in the court system and helping ensure their voices and best interests are represented. She has also served in leadership roles throughout the community, including as Secretary of Kiwanis of Onslow County and as a member of the Jacksonville Jaycees.
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Her involvement extends to education and workforce development, serving on community advisory boards supporting the Regional Skills Center’s collision repair program and Coastal Carolina Community College’s Automotive Systems Technology program. She is also a member of the Jacksonville Police Department Towing Committee, assists with PEERS+, and participates in the City of Jacksonville’s Community Action Team for the Resilience Strategy.
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Whitney is equally passionate about showing up for the organizations that serve our community. She actively supports local nonprofits, fundraisers, and community events benefiting One Place, the Onslow County Victims Center, United Way, the Onslow Memorial Hospital Foundation, Sturgeon City, the Jacksonville Onslow Chamber of Commerce, OHLA, the CHEW Program, Boys & Girls Club, Philippians Place, and local volunteer fire departments, among many others.
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Whether advocating for a child, supporting a nonprofit, strengthening career opportunities, or volunteering alongside her neighbors, Whitney believes strong communities are built by people and businesses willing to give what they can.
For her, community service isn't just about the organizations you're part of. It's about showing up for the people and causes that make Onslow County a place we're proud to call home.
Prepared to Serve
Whitney believes asking the people of Onslow County to trust her with a seat on the Board of Commissioners comes with a responsibility to be present, engaged, and prepared. Since filing for office, she has made it a priority to be in the room, follow the issues facing our county, and stay involved in the decisions shaping its future.
She has attended every regular Board of Commissioners meeting and workshop since filing, along with Planning Board meetings, Fire Commission meetings, committee meetings, and board meetings of local municipalities throughout Onslow County. She has spent countless hours reviewing agendas, budgets, development proposals, and policies, looking beyond the final vote to understand the information and potential impacts behind each decision.
But her involvement doesn't stop at the meeting room doors. Whitney spends time throughout Onslow County listening to residents, knocking on doors, attending community events, and hearing firsthand about the challenges facing our neighborhoods, businesses, and families.
Her professional experience has taught her to ask questions, research the details, listen to different perspectives, and consider the consequences before making decisions. She brings that same approach to public service.
For Whitney, being prepared to serve isn't something that begins after Election Day. It's a commitment she has already made through her time, involvement, and consistent presence in the communities she hopes to represent.
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