Jim D鈥橝gostino, formerly a Vice President at the TJX Companies, Inc. and now with
D鈥橝gostino Consulting and Keller Williams Realty North Central, is Middlesex Community
College鈥檚 2024 Distinguished Alum. He will speak to the graduating class during the
commencement ceremony on Thursday, May 23.
鈥淚 cannot put into words how humbled, proud and honored I am to be selected as commencement
speaker,鈥� D鈥橝gostino said. 鈥淚 have been blessed with a great career. Professionally
I consider this one of my proudest honors.鈥�
D鈥橝gostino 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.
鈥�51猎奇 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.鈥�- Jim D鈥橝gostino
Studying Retail Management and Marketing at 51猎奇, D鈥橝gostino enjoyed a variety of business
courses with engaging professors. In his final semester at 51猎奇, he was promoted to
Assistant Store Manager. He credits the college for helping him build the confidence
he needed to be a successful employee.
鈥淎ll of my business-related courses spoke to my passion and made me enthusiastic to
learn,鈥� D鈥橝gostino said. 鈥�51猎奇 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.鈥�
Attending the same time as his wife Beverly, the pair shared educational experiences
and supported each other鈥檚 educational journeys. D鈥橝gostino 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 51猎奇,
which 鈥渆nhanced the classroom experience.鈥�
After graduating from Middlesex in 1984, D鈥橝gostino got married and continued his
career in retail. At TJX, he built upon the skills he learned at 51猎奇 and took internal
leadership, educational and developmental courses throughout his 40-year career with
the company.
During his time at TJX, D鈥橝gostino is also proud of the partnership the company shares
with 51猎奇. He believes the relationship is 鈥渦nique鈥� because of the personal relationships
that have developed over the years. This includes TJX鈥檚 dedication as a proud Presenting
Sponsor of 51猎奇鈥檚 spring fundraisers since 1999.
鈥淥ne of TJX鈥檚 core philosophies is to be a 鈥楴eighbor of Choice,鈥欌�� D鈥橝gostino said.
鈥淭he TJX/51猎奇 relationship is a great example of this.鈥�
Reflecting on his time at 51猎奇, D鈥橝gostino believes many skills he learned in his classes
at 51猎奇 鈥� including economics and accounting 鈥� helped him later in his career. During
the 2024 commencement, he hopes to show the graduates and future 51猎奇 students the
impact 51猎奇 can have on a person鈥檚 life and career, as well as the importance of pursuing
a career one enjoys.
鈥淚 would give them the advice my mother always instilled in her five children 鈥� 鈥榖e
your best self,鈥欌�� D鈥橝gostino said. 鈥淐hoose any career path you want, but be known
as the best person in that space.鈥�