Tiffin University will welcome Margriet de Schutter, an international media personality and former elite speed skating competitor from The Netherlands, for two public events on Wednesday, November 5, and Thursday, November 6, 2025.
On Wednesday, November 5, de Schutter will present “The Secret Balance of Champions,” an inspiring discussion about life after elite sport, mental health and the pursuit of balance beyond competition.
The following day, Thursday, November 6, Tiffin University will host its annual Sports Media and Marketing Conference from 9:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. in the Marion Center. The 2025 conference, themed “Shaping the Future of Sports Communication,” will bring together more than a dozen industry professionals, students and faculty from Tiffin University and surrounding colleges for a day of insight, innovation and networking.
Throughout the week, de Schutter will be joined by former Olympian, Dr. Liston Bochette, who will serve as a visiting professor from November 4 through 7, speaking with classes, athletic teams and faculty about leadership, sport diplomacy and global engagement.
This year’s Sports Media and Marketing Conference has been redesigned to align with the university’s course schedule and to provide more interactive learning opportunities for students. The program will include four 75-minute sessions, each featuring brief career insights from industry professionals, a featured presentation and roundtable discussions. Grab-and-go snacks provided by the Toledo chapter of the American Advertising Federation will be available between sessions and attendees will have the opportunity to win door prizes.
Sessions will explore key areas of sports communication, including social media strategy, artificial intelligence in marketing and content creation, athlete storytelling, advertising and sponsorship trends, broadcasting innovations, NIL marketing, digital journalism, community engagement and emerging technologies. The opening session will feature Bobb Vergiels, the legendary press box broadcaster known best for his fifteen seasons with the Detroit Tigers, including the 2005 MLB All-Star Game and 2006 World Series.
Tiffin University is committed to preparing our students for success in the ever-changing sports industry.
“Tiffin University is committed to preparing our students for success in the ever-changing sports industry,” said Dr. Tom Marben, Dean of the School of Business. “This conference brings students together with professionals and experts to share best practices, build connections and demonstrate how academic knowledge translates into real-world impact.”
Valarie Thompson, president of the Toledo Chapter of the American Advertising Federation, added, “We are proud to partner with Tiffin University on this special event. Students need to know that there are many different opportunities for a career in sports marketing right in their own backyard.”
Registration for the 2025 Sports Media and Marketing Conference is open now to students, faculty, alumni and members of the public.
For more information or to register, visit tiffin.edu/academics/school-of-business/sports-media-and-marketing-conference or contact Dr. Bonnie Tiell, Professor of Sport Management at Tiffin University, at btiell@tiffin.edu.