Torey Alston has built a career around education, public service, infrastructure, and expanding opportunity. A Broward County, Florida native, he grew up in a family where service was part of everyday life. His father, Louis Alston, was a retired police officer, while his mother, Bobby Smith Alston, worked as a social worker.
Alston graduated from Blanche Ely High School in Pompano Beach, Florida before attending Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University (FAMU). He earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Management in 2005 and an MBA in 2007. He later continued his professional education through programs at various educational institutions covering nonprofit leadership, compliance, accessibility, contracting, and operational improvement.
His career began with the State of Florida, where he led offices focused on supplier development and efficient government. From there, he moved through leadership roles with Broward County, Miami-Dade County Public Schools, the City of Gainesville, and the Florida Department of Transportation. His work frequently centered on operations, economic opportunity, compliance, accessibility, and organizational leadership.
Alston later served as CEO of the Greater Miami Expressway Agency before becoming the eighth President and CEO of Broward College in February 2025. He served in that position through August 2026, continuing a career shaped by both public leadership and education.
Public service has remained another important part of his career.
Alston has served on the Broward County Board of Commissioners, chaired the School Board of Broward County, and participated in numerous civic and educational organizations throughout Florida. He also values family time and enjoys fishing, bowling, and traveling, while continuing to focus on the idea that institutions work best when leaders understand the people they serve.
What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?
My days have changed depending on the role, but I’ve always tried to start by identifying the two or three things that truly need my attention. I start my day with prayer and affirmations and loving on my wife and kids. Then I quietly scan world, regional, and local affairs to understand the pulse and environment for the day.
Leadership roles can fill your calendar very quickly, so if you don’t decide what matters before the day gets moving, other people will decide for you.
I also try to leave room for conversations because some of the most useful information I’ve received throughout my career has come from a brief discussion with an employee, student, community member, or partner that wasn’t necessarily on the formal agenda. Those conversations can surface issues early and help me make better decisions.
How do you bring ideas to life?
I start by asking who the idea is supposed to help and what problem it is actually solving. Once that is clear, I like to break the idea into practical steps and identify who needs to be involved, what resources are required, and where the likely roadblocks are.
My background in operations taught me that good ideas can fail when execution is treated as an afterthought. I want to know who owns each part, what could slow us down, and how we will know whether the idea actually worked once it is in place.
What’s one trend that excites you?
I’m interested in the growing connection between higher education and the workforce. Students increasingly want to understand how what they are learning connects to a career, an industry, or the needs of their community, and I think colleges have an opportunity to respond to that more directly. It includes providing more experiences and programs in K-12 school districts where students are exposed even earlier to high-demand careers.
We should also be thinking more creatively about credentials, partnerships, career pathways, and lifelong learning. Education does not stop when someone earns a degree, and institutions have an important role to play in helping people keep building skills throughout their careers.
What is one habit that helps you be productive?
I write things down because I don’t like relying completely on memory, especially when I’m moving between meetings and conversations throughout the day. My memory is not always the best, according to my wife, so it helps. I keep notes on decisions, follow-ups, and people I need to reconnect with so that important details do not get lost.
It sounds simple, but it keeps small commitments from becoming forgotten commitments. Consistency in those small things can make a big difference over time.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Never say no to an opportunity! I would also tell my younger self not to be in such a hurry to reach the next title. Early in your career, you can become focused on what comes next instead of paying attention to everything the current experience is teaching you.
Some of the assignments that seemed routine at the time taught me skills I later needed in much larger leadership positions. I would remind myself to learn the job in front of me, ask more questions, and trust that the next opportunity will come when the foundation is there.
Tell us something you believe almost nobody agrees with you on?
I think systems and organizational processes deserve far more attention than new ideas. People naturally want to talk about vision, innovation, and major initiatives, but organizations often succeed or fail because of broken systems, structures and silos.
Fixing something ordinary can sometimes create more impact than launching something new. A well-run process may not attract much attention, but it can make life easier for employees, students, customers, or community members every single day.
What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?
I believe in management by walking around, getting a hands-on and direct view of the environment. I recommend talking to people who see the organization differently than you do. If you’re in leadership, speak with the person doing the work every day, and if you work in operations, spend time with the people affected by the process.
If you’re making decisions about students, spend time listening to them rather than relying solely on reports or meetings. You understand an organization differently when you leave your normal circle and hear directly from people who experience it from another angle.
When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?
This is when I take a “hot tea break” to recharge and renew my focus. I also find it helpful to fully step away for a little while, depending on the situation. In my personal time, fishing is especially good for that because you cannot rush it, and sometimes a little distance from a problem makes the solution much easier to see. My wife and kids enjoy the outdoors for relaxation and clarity.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?
I’ve tried to become useful in situations where organizations need someone who can connect strategy with execution. My career has spanned education, transportation, local government, state government, compliance, and operations. Although those fields may appear different, there is alignment in the leadership and experience needed to be successful.
You still have to manage people, understand budgets, follow regulations, communicate clearly, and deliver results. Building transferable skills has allowed me to move between sectors, because the core lessons around leadership and execution continue to apply.
What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?
Earlier in my career, I sometimes assumed that if a plan made sense on paper, people would naturally understand why we were doing it. I learned that implementation depends heavily on communication because people need context, especially when a decision changes their work or affects something they care about.
Since then, I’ve tried to spend more time explaining the reasoning behind decisions and listening for concerns before assuming everyone is aligned. That lesson has helped me approach change with more patience and a better understanding of how people experience it.
What is one business idea you’re willing to give away to our readers?
I think there is room for a service that helps small employers build stronger relationships with local colleges and training programs. Large companies often have dedicated teams managing workforce partnerships, while smaller employers may need the same talent pipelines but have no idea where to start.
A platform that helps local businesses identify relevant programs, internships, certifications, and student partnerships could create value for employers and students at the same time. It could make workforce connections easier for companies that do not have a large human resources or recruiting team.
What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
I use both Microsoft and Google applications. Microsoft Outlook has probably been one of the most consistently useful tools throughout my career. I use the calendar heavily, but I also use it as a way to manage follow-ups and keep track of what needs to happen after meetings. I also am a fan of Microsoft Teams to ensure regular informal communication with my team.
Do you have a favorite book or podcast you’ve gotten a ton of value from and why?
I tend to get the most value from leadership books and conversations that focus on how organizations actually operate rather than just big ideas. I like material that makes me think about decision-making, accountability, culture, communication, and how leaders respond when an organization is going through change.
I’m especially interested in lessons that can transfer between sectors because my own career has crossed education, government, and transportation. I find that the most useful ideas are often the ones that can be adapted to different environments rather than applied to only one industry.
From a leadership perspective, I also encourage my teams to complete the Strengths Finder assessment and read Discover Your Clifton Strengths by Don Clifton. It helps shape leaders, help teams understand varying perspectives and builds upon one’s strengths.
What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?
My favorite movie with my wife is The Best Man.
The movie favorites with the kids are all versions of Home Alone.
Key learnings
- Family Importance – Lead a strong career but maintain balance with your family and personal life. I love my wife and kids, as they keep me grounded.
- Leadership – Think big, create an environment where all ideas are welcome and build a team that can take your vision to the next level.
- Growth – Continue learning, reading and gaining knowledge from various traditional and non-traditional forms. Staying on top of trends and future growth is key to professional success.