Fred Shaw, owner and operator of F & D Shaw Motors, has spent the last 22 years selling vehicles in and around Greensboro. He says his business is part of a much longer story of Black entrepreneurship in his family.
“Entrepreneurship runs deep in my family,” Shaw said. “I am proud to follow in the footsteps of my grandfather and father, both businessmen in their rights.”
His grandfather owned and operated a grist mill and grocery store that served as a cornerstone for his community. His father ran a pulpwood business for more than 30 years, employing many local residents. Shaw worked alongside his father in that business before spending 29 years with the State of Alabama.
Through those years, he said, he learned lessons that would shape the way he runs his own operation today.
“After spending several years working with my dad in the pulpwood business, 29 years working for the State of Alabama, I saw firsthand the importance of reliability, responsibility, and service,” he said. “Those values ultimately led me to pursue entrepreneurship with purpose.”
F & D Shaw Motors grew out of that sense of purpose. Shaw said his goal in opening the dealership was not just to make a living, but to meet a real need in the community.
“For the last 22 years, my goal has always been simple and meaningful — to provide affordable, reliable vehicles to my community and surrounding areas,” he said. “By offering dependable vehicles at fair prices, I aim to remove barriers and help families move forward.”
He describes his work as both business and ministry. Shaw is active in his church and involved in community activities, and he said he believes success should be shared.
“Beyond business, I believe in giving back,” he said. “Success means little if it is not shared.”
As communities mark Black History Month, Shaw said he sees his own story as one more thread in a larger fabric of Black business owners who built and sustained local economies, often with little recognition.
“Black History Month is a time to reflect on where we’ve been, honor those who paved the way, and recommit ourselves to uplifting the communities that shaped us,” he said.
From his grandfather’s mill and store, to his father’s pulpwood crews, to the car lot he runs today, Shaw said he is trying to carry that legacy forward.
“My journey as a Black businessman is rooted in legacy, service, and hope for the future,” he said. “By building something that serves others, I strive to honor the past while helping create opportunities for the next generation with the Lord as my guide.”
