Michael J. DiVirgilio is the immediate past president and current first vice president of the Containerization and Intermodal Institute (CII), an organization with which he became active more than a decade ago. He is also one of the best known and most respected people in international trade and transportation, a field he joined as a part-time employee at 16, while he was still attending High School in Brooklyn, New York where he grew up.

Mike’s entry into the maritime industry nearly 50 years ago included a subway from Brooklyn to lower Manhattan.  Anyone who knows him, which is almost everyone, might be surprised by this improbable story. Seeking a part-time job, Mike and a friend were referred to a brokerage firm at 2 Broad Street.  Unbeknownst to the teenagers, the back end of the BMT train stopped at Broad Street; the front at Broadway.  They were at the front of the train and found themselves at the door of 2 Broadway and in the offices of Moore McCormack Lines, where they were hired as part-time mailroom clerks.

Mike stayed at Moore McCormack for 4 years, working at its 23rd Street Brooklyn and  Pier 7 Furman Street terminals in various jobs, then graduating to the head office at 2 Broadway in the traffic department.  With containerization becoming a reality, he jumped at the opportunity to join NYK Line, one of the premier five Japanese containership operators, as the carrier commenced its all-water service between Asia and the East Coast of North America. He remained for 42 years with the NYK Group until his retirement (2014) as Senior Vice President of one of NYK’s terminal operating companies, Ceres Terminals. Today, he serves as the principal of his own consulting firm, MJ DiVirgilio & Associates.

Mike’s relationship with CII began in the early days when he was a frequent and favorite speaker at the institute’s popular Shipper’s Dialogue held around the country to allow representatives of major maritime entities to debate the issues of the day. Many of those who became leaders of the industry joined CII, making its membership a particular source of industry pride.

One of his favorite experiences from his early NYK days involved the General Manager who approached Mike with an observation. “He noticed that I departed the office at different times each day and asked why I had that pattern,” says Mike. “I told him I was going to night school at Baruch College, (a City University entity), and my classes started at various times each night. It took me seven years to earn my degree in international economics and it worked for me. I did not know if my style of securing an education fit with the Japanese culture, but that’s the way I had to do it.”

It took a few weeks and more questions and eventually Mike received his answer. NYK drew a check that paid for his college education—a tuition plan they never considered prior to noticing the various office departure times. It was a company benefit that was then introduced to others.  “I was young. We had two toddlers and the education funds were a blessing, but never expected,” Mike said. It was truly one of many acknowledgements of his good work.

In fact, it was the burgeoning scholarship program at CII that also drew Mike’s attention, knowing how much the supplemental financial support helped him pursue his education. “I love the commitment, the people and the joy of the students who benefit from our efforts.”

Mike stays involved in the industry. A frequent speaker at industry events (virtual and in-person), Mike works closely with the maritime community throughout the country, with an emphasis on the New York/New Jersey harbor. In fact, his strong connection and deep commitment to the success of the harbor landed him the role of president of the Maritime Association of the Port of New York and New Jersey, an honor he accepted in late 2020.