From Opportunity to Leadership: How Tory Howard Lives BAC’s Values Every Day

At BAC, our mission is carried forward not only by the services we provide, but by the people who represent us every day. Few stories reflect that more clearly than Tory Howard’s.

From the moment Tory joined BAC’s Kennedy Space Center custodial team, his character and leadership stood out.
Project Manager Maria Mays explains it best:

 Journey Defined by Perseverance

Tory’s path to leadership did not begin easily. Raised in a single-parent household and without a father figure, he lost his grandfather, his primary male role model, at age 11. Struggling with grief and instability, he became involved in negative influences, experienced incarceration, and at times faced homelessness.

He also worked through anxiety and ADHD-related learning challenges. Yet even through those hardships, his determination to build a better future never left him.

Everything changed when he was given an opportunity and someone believed in him.

“They’ve given me the confidence to be myself, to go out and perform to the best of my abilities,” Tory says. “I finally feel free to be who I am.”

Growth and Ownership in Action

Since joining BAC, Tory has quickly grown from custodian to trusted fill-in Lead. Supervisors noticed his natural ability to organize work, motivate teammates, and communicate clearly. He mastered scheduling, quality standards, and team coordination, not because he was asked to, but because he felt responsible for his team’s success.

That sense of Ownership shows daily. He checks in with coworkers, helps crews meet deadlines, and steps in wherever support is needed.

Maria Mays shares, “Tory has an attitude that no one is left behind and is always rounding up the team to help one another when areas fall short. He quickly grasped the duties of a fill-in Lead and became a dependable backup.”

His actions demonstrate Customer Centered service as well. He takes pride in ensuring facilities exceed cleanliness expectations and that BAC is represented professionally at all times.

Integrity and Optimism

Tory leads with empathy and accountability. He encourages teammates, teaches best practices, and celebrates their success. His positive attitude has raised morale and performance across his work area.

That daily encouragement reflects BAC’s value of Optimism, believing in people, assuming positive intent, and motivating others to succeed.

Tory Howard and Anthony Hodge

Building a Future and Helping Others Do the Same

The stability of his role has allowed Tory to transform his personal life as well. He has built a secure home with his fiancée, earned his driver’s license, and set ambitious goals: purchasing a home, attending barber school, and mentoring at-risk youth.

His dream is simple but powerful, to give free haircuts to children from single-parent households and serve as a role model so they understand their past does not define their future.

“All I needed was for someone to believe in me and give me an opportunity,” Tory says. “BAC did that, and I’ve run with it ever since. I want to make my team, my family, and my customers proud every single day.”

Living BAC’s Values

Tory’s story reflects each of BAC’s core values:

• Customer Centered: Pride in service and representing BAC professionally

• Growth: Continuous learning and personal development

• Ownership: Taking responsibility for team success

• Integrity: Earning trust through reliability and accountability

• Optimism: Encouraging others and believing in what’s possible

His journey embodies the spirit of the Evelyne Villines Award and the mission of the AbilityOne Program: when individuals are trusted, supported, and given opportunity, they don’t just succeed, they become leaders who lift others with them.

Tory Howard is more than a strong employee.
He is proof that opportunity changes lives and that people change organizations.