Fall Doctoral Residency Weekend

Dr. David Farler is an executive leader, engineer, researcher, and educator with nearly two decades of experience across the oil and gas, refining, chemical, and energy industries. His career has progressed from frontline operations and engineering through increasingly senior leadership roles, including engineering and operations management, Plant Manager, Site Director, and corporate Director-level leadership.

David earned his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Ohio Northern University and began his industrial career working in frontline operations as a union pipefitter and process operator. His career has since spanned operations, engineering, maintenance, construction, major capital projects, turnarounds, and organizational leadership.

He later earned both his MBA and PhD in Global Leadership and Change from Tiffin University, completing his doctorate with Academic Distinction in 2022. His doctoral research examined leadership styles in the oil, gas, chemical, and energy sectors. During his doctoral studies, David and Dr. Perry Haan co-authored Effective Leadership in the Engineering, Technology, and Construction Industry, which received a Best Presentation Award and was subsequently published in the Journal of Construction Materials.

Throughout his career, David has held leadership responsibility for billions of dollars in operations and major capital execution for Fortune 500 organizations, leading complex operations, projects, construction, maintenance, and turnarounds involving thousands of employees, contractors, and stakeholders.

David also spent approximately 15 years in industrial firefighting and emergency response, experiences that helped shape his approach to leadership, teamwork, risk management, and decision-making under pressure.

His leadership philosophy is grounded in situational and servant leadership and reinforced through his GRIT framework: Grounded, Resilient, Intentional, and Tenacious.

David currently serves as an adjunct MBA faculty member and member of Tiffin University’s Business Advisory Council. As a Tiffin PhD graduate, he is passionate about helping doctoral students move beyond completing the degree to applying their knowledge and leadership to create meaningful impact.

David and his wife, Amber, have three children.

Sheriff Michael Cortez is a 34-year law enforcement veteran, serving 32 years with the Hancock County Sheriffs Office. Throughout his career, he has held various roles, including Corrections, Road Patrol, Drug Investigations, and Community Policing. Additionally, he has been an in-house trainer for over 23 years in multiple law enforcement disciplines.

Sheriff Cortez has served as an OPOTA instructor for Owens and Terra State Community Colleges along with serving as an adjunct professor for Terra State Community College and Tiffin University’s Criminal Justice programs. He is a 2018 graduate of the Certified Law Enforcement Executive Training and holds an Associate’ s degree in Law Enforcement Technology from Owens State Community College, as well as a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Criminal Justice Administration from Tiffin University.

In 2020, Sheriff Cortez launched the Hancock County Sheriffs Office’s first mental health wellness program, establishing a 13-person peer support team. He has published an article on mental health wellness in law enforcement in Ohio Police Chief Magazine and co-authored a book review on New Trends in Forensic Psychology for the Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology.

Sheriff Cortez took office on January 6, 2025.

1. What is the dress code for the weekend?
   • Business casual
2. What food will be provided residency weekend?
   • Friday: Hors d’oeuvres
   • Saturday: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Hors d’oeuvres
   • Sunday: Breakfast
3. How many residencies are required?
   • Doctoral students are required to participate in at least 3 residencies before graduation. Tiffin University hosts two residencies every year; one in the spring and one in the fall. Depending on your program, there are other activities that count towards your residency total as well.
   • If you are unable to attend for any reason, be sure you plan ahead/accordingly so you are able to attend 3 residencies before you graduate.

AIRPORTS

John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH)
Columbus, OH
91 Miles from Campus

Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW)
Detroit, MI
92 Miles from Campus

Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE)
Cleveland, OH
83 Miles for Campus 

HOTELS

Hampton Inn
2492 South State Route 231
Tiffin, OH 44883
419-443-5300

• Cost: $169 per night plus tax for king room, $179 per night plus tax for double queen room
• Notes: Guests can call directly to book and reference the TU Residency, or they can use the code TIF when booking online.
• Deadline for Special Rate: September 16, 2026

Holiday Inn Express
78 Shaffer Park Drive
Tiffin, OH 44883
419-443-5100

• Cost: $212 per night plus tax for king room

• Notes: Guests can call directly to book and reference the TU Residency, or they can use the code TUD when booking online.

• Deadline for Special Rate: September 16, 2026

PARKING

Visitors are permitted to have a vehicle on campus and no parking permit is required.

CHAINS
Bob Evans
Buffalo Wild Wings

DELIS/DINERS
Frisch’s Big Boy
Paulette’s
The Deli at Frost Village

CAFES/COFFEE
Wild Bunch Wellness Bar
Bailiwicks Coffee Company
Sabaidee Tiffin Coffee & Crepes

A BIT FANCY
Empire at 138
Ironwood Steakhouse
Pioneer Mill
The Turntable

ITALIAN/PIZZA 
Napoli Pizza
AJ’s Heavenly Pizza
Reino’s Pizza & Pasta
Fort Ball Pizza Palace

MEXICAN/ASIAN
Casa Express
Xcaret Mexican Restaurant
KiKu Japanese Fusion
Hunan King

AMERICAN/BAR & GRILL
Carmie’s BBQ & Grill
MST Pub & Grub
Clover Club
Wall Street Pub & Grille
GW’s Fine Food & Spirits

INTERNET SERVICE
Basic Internet access is available during your residency stay.

COVID GUIDELINES
Students, faculty, staff, and visitors are no longer required to wear masks indoors while on campus, but remain free to do so at their discretion.  TU remains in support of those who choose to continue masking no matter their reasoning. 

TOBACCO USE
Tiffin University is a smoke-free and tobacco product-free campus. The use, sale, and advertising of all tobacco or tobacco-related products, including but not limited to cigarettes, electronic cigarettes, cigars, marijuana, pipes, and smokeless tobacco is strictly prohibited in any indoor space.

PETS AND ANIMALS
Non-Service pets and animals are prohibited throughout campus.

CAMPUS ENVIRONMENT
Every residency participant should be aware that Tiffin University is strongly opposed to any acts of discrimination based on race, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion, and political beliefs, and will confront and appropriately respond to such acts.