Alumni Spotlight: Dominic DeCaro ('00)

Dominic DeCaro’s relationship with Gonzaga began in his youth. Dan Fitzgerald and Fr. Tony Lehmann, S.J. would bring the basketball team to DeCaro’s—his parents’ Italian restaurant. During these meals and in conversations with Fr. Tony, Dominic began to form his own connection with Gonzaga. While his college career started elsewhere, Dominic eventually transferred to Gonzaga and felt right at home. He joined the Pacific Islander Club, danced hula, and watched great basketball games—back in the day when you could show up five minutes before a game to get a seat. Gonzaga provided Dominic “not only a place to grow up and mature, but also the support system I needed for transitioning from college to career and beyond.”

Dominic believes a Gonzaga education is more than just an academic degree; it is the shaping of who you are as you interact with others and the world around you. “My time at Gonzaga taught me about developing strong relationships and the practice of servant leadership,” Dominic says. As the leader of the Business Banking team at Washington Trust Bank in Spokane, Dominic uses those skills each day. His area focuses on the relationships with small to medium businesses; often “mom and pop” shops. “Banking is all about people and developing trusted relationships; it is also about the human capital of my team. Connecting with others and doing your best for them is what matters.”

Gonzaga alums have qualities that our communities and our businesses need–integrity, honesty, trust, servant leadership–in essence, living out the Ignatian principle of being a person for others.

Dominic has remained close to the University over the years, from alumni chapter leadership to the Alumni Association Scholarship Councill, currently as the Council President, and on the Board of Regents. One aspect of this role is to support the Alumni Scholarship Fund. For over 40 years, the Alumni Scholarship Fund has awarded scholarships to students who have parents, grandparents or siblings that are alumni of Gonzaga. Dominic believes strongly in the mission to make it easier for students to attend the University and providing communities with workforces that are Gonzaga educated.