Domenic Gallelli - Founder and President
Domenic Gallelli is the founder and President of Prodigal, a role he began preparing for since 1995. After spending over ten years coordinating, training, and directing security for a wide variety of events and employers throughout Philadelphia and the surrounding counties, he formed Prodigal in 2005.
Domenic’s educational and training background is eclectic and diverse, as is his professional experience. His educational background runs the gamut from biochemistry to exercise science, all of which serves him extremely well as a principal partner in Optimal Wellness, a Center City fitness training and wellness company. Optimal Wellness has just been voted Best of Philly by Philadelphia Magazine, in considerable part to Domenic’s contributions. He also has undergone years of specialized training in martial arts, leadership, and management.
Domenic has served as Special Guest Lecturer for the Sociology Department of Rutgers-Camden University for 2003-2005, in topics ranging from Gender Identity to Sex Role Differentiation. He has both worked and studied in Europe and recently served as co-author for a soon to be published text. Both of these endeavors were in affiliation with the University of Pennsylvania.
Currently, Domenic is a Master’s Degree Candidate in the prestigious Organizational Dynamics Program at the University of Pennsylvania. As a result of his Penn experience, he has successfully infused both Prodigal and Optimal with rapidly growing and dynamic knowledge of management, leadership, and operational elements.
Domenic has been heavily involved with a variety of community-based fund-raising efforts. Manna, the Aids Fund, The Sapphire Fund and The Mazzoni Center, all community health organizations, have both benefited from Domenic’s efforts and experience. In addition, the Gift of Life Organ Donor Program can also now count Domenic as its newest board member.
Domenic’s leadership and organizational capabilities are widely considered to be among the finest in the security industry, and his commitment to both Prodigal’s team and its clients is exemplary.
Larry Schwarz - Vice President
Larry Schwarz started his interest in Emergency Services over 30 years ago in Northern New Jersey. At the age of 17, he joined his local Volunteer Ambulance Corps. Three years later he became a member of the Volunteer Fire Department, where he eventually rose to the rank of Captain. In 1981 he started his career in Law Enforcement as a special police officer. He was then hired as a full time officer, and promoted to Sergeant in 1995. In 1998, he achieved the rank of Lieutenant.
Larry recently retired from the Police Department after 25 years of police service. During his career he commanded the Operations, Investigative, Records Divisions, 911 Coordinator and served as the local Emergency Management Coordinator. Larry’s forte was crisis management and high stress situations which he always managed to a successful conclusion.
Larry has attended Bergen Community College, William Paterson University, and Farleigh Dickenson University, with specialties in Public Administration, Criminal Justice and Emergency Management. Larry is also Firefighter 1, Firefighter 2, Firefighter 3 and Fire Officers 1 certified, AED / CPR Trained, First Responder (past Emergency Medical Technician), and has completed over 1,000 hours of specialized law enforcement training including hostage negotiations, various rescue courses, and is a certified police instructor.
Larry has supervised the evacuation of residents during flooding, other natural disasters, major fires, and a variety of high risk situations. He has received numerous lifesaving and valor awards.
Larry and Domenic have shared a close friendship since 1999. When Domenic approached Larry with his ideas for Prodigal, it was immediately obvious to both that this was in fact, a natural merger. Both men hold the same value in the safety of their fellow man; and truly live and work by the maxim that all people should be treated fairly and equally, with compassion and understanding.
