Jim D’Agostino, formerly a Vice President at the TJX Companies, Inc. and now with D’Agostino Consulting and Keller Williams Realty North Central, is Middlesex Community College’s 2024 Distinguished Alum. He will speak to the graduating class during the commencement ceremony on Thursday, May 23.

“I cannot put into words how humbled, proud and honored I am to be selected as commencement speaker,” D’Agostino said. “I have been blessed with a great career. Professionally I consider this one of my proudest honors.”

D’Agostino chose to come to Middlesex because the college was affordable and had a positive reputation. Flexible classes helped him manage his schedule while working full-time, including having the ability to complete courses over the summer.

“MCC prepared me to launch my career with a great foundation of how the business world works. It also fostered my desire to learn more. I became a lifelong student of retail and used my foundation to learn how to become a successful business leader.”- Jim D’Agostino

Studying Retail Management and Marketing at MCC, D’Agostino enjoyed a variety of business courses with engaging professors. In his final semester at MCC, he was promoted to Assistant Store Manager. He credits the college for helping him build the confidence he needed to be a successful employee.

“All of my business-related courses spoke to my passion and made me enthusiastic to learn,” D’Agostino said. “MCC prepared me to launch my career with a great foundation of how the business world works. It also fostered my desire to learn more. I became a lifelong student of retail and used my foundation to learn how to become a successful business leader.”

Attending the same time as his wife Beverly, the pair shared educational experiences and supported each other’s educational journeys. D’Agostino also benefitted from the diverse population of students Middlesex serves. Coming from a high school that had only 100 students, he learned from classmates of many different backgrounds at MCC, which “enhanced the classroom experience.”

After graduating from Middlesex in 1984, D’Agostino got married and continued his career in retail. At TJX, he built upon the skills he learned at MCC and took internal leadership, educational and developmental courses throughout his 40-year career with the company.

During his time at TJX, D’Agostino is also proud of the partnership the company shares with MCC. He believes the relationship is “unique” because of the personal relationships that have developed over the years. This includes TJX’s dedication as a proud Presenting Sponsor of MCC’s spring fundraisers since 1999.

“One of TJX’s core philosophies is to be a ‘Neighbor of Choice,’” D’Agostino said. “The TJX/MCC relationship is a great example of this.”

Reflecting on his time at MCC, D’Agostino believes many skills he learned in his classes at MCC – including economics and accounting – helped him later in his career. During the 2024 commencement, he hopes to show the graduates and future MCC students the impact MCC can have on a person’s life and career, as well as the importance of pursuing a career one enjoys.

“I would give them the advice my mother always instilled in her five children – ‘be your best self,’” D’Agostino said. “Choose any career path you want, but be known as the best person in that space.”