Howard Shotwell, the retired former CFO of Coors Distributing of Fort Worth, is putting his passion for trade scholarships into action by forming his own foundation with his wife, Sandy, and friends.
Leadership through community involvement is nothing new for him. Shotwell chaired the Northeast Tarrant Chamber of Commerce in 2016 and has served on the City of Hurst Planning & Zoning Commission for 14 years. He was recognized with the Distinguished Leadership Award by the Northeast Leadership Forum in 2022.
“For the past several years, I’ve been reading and watching news stories about the dramatic shortage of skilled trades that our nation is experiencing, and the shortage is worsening. If we don’t act now, we won’t have enough plumbers, electricians, firefighters, construction workers, automotive technicians, and advanced manufacturing workers.”
Articles carried such messages as: · U.S. News & World Report: Once known as vocational schools, Career and Technology Classes and programs can prepare students for many career pathways · USA Today: Blue Collar Is In – 10 high-paying jobs that don’t require a degree · Wall Street Journal: The High-School Juniors with $70,000-a-Year Job Offers
One article shared that students in such high-demand trades as welding and HVAC find themselves choosing from multiple career opportunities, frequently at higher pay levels than their friends who graduate from a four-year university, and with little or no debt.
Shotwell appreciates traditional education since his son, Dr. Rodney Shotwell, is a retired, award-winning school superintendent in North Carolina. For decades, the prevailing message to young people was clear: success required a four-year college degree. While higher education remains a valuable path for many, the one-size-fits-all mindset has diminished the importance of trade education, and the American economy is paying the price. Shotwell reached out to friends who shared his awareness of and passion for vocational education, and they encouraged him to form his nonprofit. First among those was Larry Anfin, who is the retired former CEO of Coors Distributing of Fort Worth.
“I worked alongside Howard for 15 years, and I respect his focus on the vocational trades,” says Anfin. “These courses and certificate programs open doors for promising futures. They cost significantly less than traditional college degrees, and they take far less time to complete.” Shotwell assembled a group of stakeholders to serve on his board of directors: His wife, Sandy Shotwell; Larry Anfin; Randy McCauley (Great Plains Bank in Southlake); Trasa Cobern (6 Stones Mission Network in Euless); and John Fletcher (Fletcher Consulting PR in Arlington).
The foundation has approved two applications, and each candidate will receive a $1,000 scholarship. Applicants apply online and detail the class or classes they plan to attend, and their proposed career. They may also qualify for certificates from Google, Coursera, and many other providers. Prospective applicants must reside in Northeast Tarrant County or have earned their high school diploma or GED (General Educational Development) from Birdville, Grapevine-Colleyville, or Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD.
“We’ve been pleasantly surprised by people who have seen what we are doing, and they want to donate to our scholarship program,” adds Shotwell. “They understand the need for career training, and they want to open doors for young men and women.”
Beyond affordability, skilled trades provide stability and opportunity. Demand for skilled labor continues to grow as experienced workers retire and fewer young people enter these fields. According to workforce projections, millions of trade positions will go unfilled in the coming decade. This gap presents a powerful opportunity for individuals seeking long-term careers with strong job security, benefits, and advancement potential—including entrepreneurship and business ownership.
Shotwell continues, “Trade education also restores dignity to work that is too often overlooked. These careers require intelligence, precision, problem-solving, and pride. An electrician diagnosing a complex system or a welder fabricating structural components is applying technical expertise every bit as valuable as work done behind a desk. When we elevate trade education, we elevate respect for the people who build, fix, and sustain our world.”
From a community perspective, investing in trade education strengthens local economies. Skilled workers support small businesses, construction projects, healthcare facilities, and infrastructure development. Communities with robust trade programs are better positioned to attract employers, respond to growth, and remain resilient during economic shifts. Trade education also benefits students who learn best through hands-on experiences. Not every student thrives in a traditional classroom, and that’s okay. By offering multiple pathways to success, we honor diverse talents and learning styles while reducing dropout rates and disengagement.
The Shotwell Foundation website is www.ShotwellFoundation.com, and callers may gather additional information by calling 817-247-3240 or emailing howard@shotwellfoundation.com.
