Delcie D. Bean IV, founder of Paragus IT, to deliver Nichols College commencement address
Former Nichols trustee Alexander to receive honorary degree
Dudley, Mass. – Nichols College has announced that Delcie D. Bean IV, founder and CEO of Paragus IT, will give the commencement address at the 2026 commencement exercises, which will take place Saturday, May 2, at the DCU Center in Worcester, Massachusetts.
“Nichols College is honored to welcome Delcie Bean as we celebrate the remarkable achievements of the class of 2026. His entrepreneurial spirit, creative business acumen and deep commitment to underrepresented communities embody the values we seek to instill in our graduates,” says Nichols College President Bill Pieczynski. “We know Delcie’s words will inspire our students to trust their instincts and take risks as they pursue their dreams, while continuing to lift others as they advance in their careers. We look forward to commemorating this milestone with him and our Nichols community.”
Since founding the company at the age of 13, Bean has transformed Paragus IT into one of the most successful, fastest-growing information technology (IT) firms in the region. The company’s unique corporate culture and strategic approach to providing outsourced IT services to small- to medium-sized businesses have earned many accolades, including being named to Inc. magazine’s list of 5,000 fastest-growing businesses and Forbes magazine’s 25 Small Giants list.
As the company has grown, so has Bean’s commitment to equity and inclusion. In 2014, he created Tech Foundry, an educational nonprofit designed to address the need for a skilled IT workforce by providing in-depth training for individuals from marginalized or underrepresented communities.
In 2016, Bean began the process of transitioning Paragus to a 100% employee-owned company, which he completed in 2024. He is currently working to grow Paragus into a $250-million firm with offices across the country. In doing so, he aims to create more than 100 employee-owner millionaires.
Bean has advised state leadership on economic and technology matters and has served as a member of the Board of Trustees for Bay Path University. He has received multiple Entrepreneur of the Year and 40 Under 40 honors from Business West and the Worcester Business Journal, and Paragus has been recognized by WBJ as Best Employee-Owned Company for 2026.
Bean and his wife of 15 years live in southern New Hampshire with their three boys. He will receive an Honorary Doctor of Business Administration degree at Nichols College’s May commencement ceremony.
Constantine “Gus” Alexander, a former member of the Nichols College Board of Trustees, served as senior counsel in the law firm of Nutter, McClennen & Fish in their Corporate and Transactions Department for over 40 years and was a member of the firm’s Life Sciences and Medical Devices practice group. He represented a diverse client base comprised of public and private corporations, investment banks, venture capital firms, and CEOs and other senior executives, and he was often retained by special committees of boards of directors for advice and representation. He will receive an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree at the Nichols commencement ceremony.
Alexander acted as primary outside counsel to clients such as Anadys Pharmaceuticals, AutoImmune, BioLink, BridgeStreet Accommodations, Chadwick’s of Boston, Commerce Insurance, Damon Biotech, Damon Corporation, GenRad, Ground Round Restaurants, M/A-COM, Nabi Biopharmaceuticals, Phillips Screw Company, Provant and NewKidCo International. He has represented companies in numerous public offerings, private placements and other private financings and was lead counsel in more than fifty purchases or sales of companies.
Early in his legal career, Alexander was a law clerk to Wilson Cowen, the former chief judge of what is now the Federal Circuit of the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. He was also past chairman of the Securities Law Committee of both the Massachusetts and Boston Bar Associations and a past chairman of the Corporate Law Committee of the Massachusetts Bar Association. He lectured and authored in the corporate and securities law fields and taught at the Boston University School of Law. He also served on the Cambridge, Massachusetts, Zoning Board of Appeals for two decades, acting as chairman for much of that time. In addition, he was treasurer of the Boston Chamber Music Society.
A magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Tufts University and cum laude alumnus of Harvard Law School, Alexander lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with his wife, Linda Reinfeld.
(Pictured in story header photo: Delcie Bean IV.)
About Nichols College
Nichols College has earned business accreditation from the prestigious Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International), the longest serving global accrediting body for business schools and the largest business education network connecting learners, educators, and businesses worldwide. Founded in 1815, Nichols College transforms today’s students into tomorrow’s leaders through a dynamic, career-focused business and professional education. Nichols offers real-world learning focused on professional depth – combined with vibrant living, competitive athletics, and an unmatched alumni advantage – equipping students to exceed their own expectations. To learn more about Nichols College, visit www.nichols.edu.
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