Thomas J. DeFelice III graduates from the Dealer Candidate Academy

Eatontown — Circle BMW, the region’s premier BMW dealership, announced that Thomas J. DeFelice III, vice president and general counsel, Circle BMW, has graduated from the Dealer Candidate Academy at the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) in Tysons, Virginia.

Circle BMW Vice President and General Counsel, Thomas J. DeFelice, III, recently graduated from the Dealer Candidate Academy at the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) in Tysons, Virginia. Pictured with DeFelice (center) is Allen Phibbs, director, NADA 20-Group and Academy (left) and Diane Sauer, 2016 Time Dealer of the Year (right).

The Academy is an eleven-month educational program that consists of six classroom sessions, each one week in length, combined with 40 weeks of in-dealership analysis provided by the sponsoring dealership. Classroom instruction is structured in a manner that allows for introduction, analysis, and strategic business planning for operational success of the various profit centers within an automotive dealership.

Circle BMW Founder and President, Tom DeFelice, said, “My son will eventually run Circle BMW and the NADA’s Dealer Candidate Academy’s targeted, dealer specific curriculum in combination with on-the-job learning will help him as he transitions his role at the dealership.” He added, “We wish to congratulate Thomas on his most recent accomplishment.”

While attending graduate school, college and high school, DeFelice periodically worked at Circle BMW in various departments.He rejoined Circle BMW on a full time basis in 2015 as the dealership’s new Vice President and General Counsel. In his current position, DeFelice is responsible for managing the daily operations of the dealership.

Prior to Circle BMW, DeFelice was an associate at the law firm of Landman, Corsi, Ballaine & Ford, P.C. in Newark, N.J. from September 2013 to August 2015. DeFelice served as a judicial clerk to the Honorable Sebastian P. Lombardi, J.S.C, Superior Court of N.J., Law Division, Civil Part, Newark, from August 2012 to August 2013.

DeFelice is a graduate of Seton Hall University School of Law where he received a J.D.  degree in 2012. He earned an M.B.A. from Monmouth University’s School of Business in 2009 and a B.A. in Economics from Boston College in 2008. He is also a graduate of Christian Brothers Academy (CBA) in Lincroft, N.J.

DeFelice is a member of the CBA Alumni Committee, volunteers his time for Catholic Charities and is on the NJ Car Next Generation Board.