Lead with purpose, even in difficult times.
Whitney Bell · In Her Own Words
Her Story
About Whitney
Whitney Bell is a healthcare administrator with 25 years of experience dedicated to serving veterans and advancing long-term care. For the past 15 years, she has served as the Administrator of the North Carolina State Veterans Home in Fayetteville, where she leads a skilled nursing facility focused on providing compassionate care to veterans, their spouses, and Gold Star parents. Her career has been guided by a deep commitment to honoring those who have served, building trust with residents, families, and staff, ensuring that every individual receives care with dignity, respect, and compassion. Throughout her career, Whitney has taken on leadership roles within the long-term care and veterans’ healthcare community. As a member and past President of the National Association of State Veterans Homes, she had the opportunity to represent state veterans homes on a national level and provide testimony before Congress in May and June 2023. She describes these experiences as meaningful opportunities to advocate for veterans, healthcare professionals, and the vulnerable individuals entrusted in our care across America every day. Under her leadership, the North Carolina State Veterans Home in Fayetteville earned the American Health Care Association Bronze Quality to Commitment Award in 2010 and again in 2019 and was recognized twice as a U.S. News & World Report Best Nursing Homes in 2014 and again in 2020. An additional accolade includes the American Healthcare Association National Quality Initiative Recognition Program in 2019 and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid 5 Star Rating April 2022. Whitney earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, achieved her healthcare administrator’s license and healthcare administrator preceptor certification through the North Carolina Board of Examiners for Nursing Home Administrators, allowing her to mentor and train future healthcare administrators. She was invited to attend the North Carolina Healthcare Facilities Association Long Term Care Leadership Institute in 2020. Beyond healthcare leadership, she has dedicated 28 years as a volunteer firefighter, serves as a Commissioner for the North Carolina Indian Housing Authority, and participates on the Certified Nursing Assistant Advisory Committee for Fayetteville Technical Community College since 2015, Employer Patriot Award of the National Guard and Army Reserves 2021, and Fayetteville State University Office of Field Education Certificate of Appreciation in 2023. Whitney credits mentors such as Mr. James Woodard, North Carolina State Veterans Homes Program Manager (Retired) and Mr. Melvin Moses, Area Vice President, Pruitt Health, for helping shape her leadership journey. Her philosophy centers on continuous learning, humility, keeping commitments, and helping others grow through knowledge and mentorship.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Whitney
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to staying committed to the mission, truly listening to the people I serve, and building trust through authenticity and consistency. I believe that what you see is what you get—when you meet people where they are, lead with honesty, and genuinely try to help them put their best foot forward, you create meaningful connections and lasting impact. I have also been fortunate to be actively involved with the National Association of State Veterans Homes in various capacities, serving in different roles that allowed me to learn from others and bring those experiences back into my daily work. Ultimately, I believe my success is rooted in compassionate leadership and a steadfast commitment to supporting veterans, their families, and our staff as they navigate the transition into long-term care. By fostering, trust, collaboration, and person-centered care, I strive to ensure each individual experiences dignity, respect, and the highest quality of support throughout this important chapter.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I have received is: “Trust, but verify.” You should trust your team and the people you have empowered to complete a task, but it is also important to validate that the work has been done properly. Accountability and follow-through are essential. It is not about questioning people’s abilities—it is about ensuring expectations are met and that everyone has the support they need to succeed.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering this industry is to lead by example. Do what you say you are going to do, follow through on your commitments, and stay true to your word. Leadership is built through consistency, integrity, and the trust you earn from others.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in healthcare right now is the need for more nurses and nursing assistants. We need to encourage more people to enter the healthcare field, pursue education, and embrace the opportunity to become caregivers. Through my work with advisory committees and task force work groups, we review industry statistics and trends, and it is clear that healthcare workforce development is at a significant deficit. The healthcare workforce pipeline has not kept pace with the needs of America's aging population, leaving us several years behind in developing and training the professionals required to meet the increasing demands for high-quality care. Which makes it even more important to inspire and support the next generation of caregivers.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that are most important to me are staying open to learning something new every day and sharing that knowledge with others. I believe professional growth is driven by a commitment to continuous learning. One of the most rewarding aspects of my work is mentoring and supporting others by sharing knowledge, experiences, and lessons learned that foster professional development and contribute to meaningful, lasting impact.
Join Influential Women and start making an impact. Register now.