Grand Marshall
2026 Polish Day Parade Grand Marshal: Mike Schodowski
Michael Schodowski is President of Shelving Inc., a Madison Heights provider of industrial, commercial, and consumer shelving and storage solutions. Founded over 65 years ago, the family-owned company strives to help customers with organization and space allocation. Previous to this position, Michael was a sales executive for over 30 years at the company.
He is a board member of Legatus and Detroit Northeast Chapter and has served on the Detroit Northeast Chapter Board for the past 20 years.
Michael has a long history with the Capuchin Ministries—volunteering with the organization as a teen, he was deeply moved by their positive community impact and made it his mission to support their valuable programs and services. He has founded and sponsored multiple annual fundraising events to support the organization. This includes the Benefit on the Bay fundraiser held at MacRay Harbor in Harrison Township. Over 32 events, it has raised over $3 million since its inception. He also recently launched a Benefit on the Bay VIP Night with support from Peter Lucido and Robert Nahra (also known as Chef Bobby) that is held at HOOK Restaurant in Saint Clair Shores.
Other events include Bocce with the Brothers, A Gouda Evening, and Weekend with the Brothers. Michael has even expanded his charitable work to Lauderdale-by-the-Sea, Florida with the event Brothers by the Sea. Year after year, Michael is floored by the unwavering generosity of supporters. This work has become an integral part of Shelving Inc.’s culture and they underwrite all events to ensure that 100% of the proceeds directly benefit the organization.
2024 Polish Day Parade Grand Marshal: Doug Podell
Doug Podell is a celebrated figure in rock radio with a career spanning over four decades. He began his radio journey at 99.5 WABX in 1975 and quickly established himself as a prominent voice in the rock music scene. His experience includes roles from on-air talent to operations manager, where he developed top-rated shows like The Drew & Mike Show at 101.1 WRIF and organized significant events that captivated listeners.
A notable period in Doug’s career was his time at 98.5 WNCX in Cleveland, where he served as Operations Manager and significantly boosted the station’s ratings by leading it to become the 3rd affiliate of the Howard Stern Network. His initiatives, like the “Howard Stern Funeral” event, were instrumental in moving WNCX from 15th to 1st place in listener ratings.
Doug’s career also includes successful tenures at stations like 94.7 WCSX and 93.1 WDRQ NASH FM, where he continued to merge classic and contemporary rock, appealing to diverse audiences. His accolades include multiple “Program Director of the Year” awards and a special recognition for his contributions to the Detroit music industry by ASCAP.
Currently, Doug is back at 106.7 WLLZ, the same station where he started his illustrious career when it was known as 98.7 WLLZ. This return to his roots at WLLZ underscores a full-circle moment in his enduring presence in the industry. Doug’s legacy is not only defined by the music he has played but also by his deep commitment to the community and the lasting connections he has fostered with listeners throughout his career.
