Dominic "Dom" Papa

Dom grew up in Indianapolis and moved west for Arizona State University, where a run of degrees — political science and Italian, a Master of Public Administration, and eventually a JD — was punctuated by a career on the pitch. He played as a defender, most recently for FC Arizona / Sporting AZ FC.

The instincts translate. A good defender reads the whole field, anticipates two passes ahead, and closes the space calmly when the moment comes. That is how Dom runs a case, a workshop, or a policy negotiation.

Off the field, he founded the nation's first Smart Region initiative, held senior roles at the Arizona Commerce Authority, and — as US Lead of AWS's Cloud Innovation Centers — worked with universities and governments across the country to turn emerging technology into public outcomes. He co-founded the Connective, and continues to serve in leadership roles across Phoenix's civic and digital-equity landscape.

Papa Law & Innovation Group is the natural next chapter: one operator, three intersecting practices, and a stubborn preference for outcomes over hours.