Bio: Amy Ruppert, MCC

 

Professionally

 

I am a Master Certified Coach (MCC) with the International Coach Federation (ICF) and a Certified Graduate of Coach U. I have been a full time, professional coach since 1996. Since then I have coached hundreds of individuals in both private and group settings. My private practice, while eclectic, is comprised mostly of professionals, executives, business owners and entrepreneurs as well as individuals seeking a richer and more rewarding life and career.

 

I have always been passionate about coaching and the difference it can make and have worked hard to see it grow as a respected, worldwide profession. To that end, I have assumed many leadership roles within the coaching community and have been called by many a pioneer in this field.

Those leadership roles included:

President, Coach Live (a division of Coach Inc)
For over five years I was on the executive team of Coach Inc (the parent company of Coach U and Corporate Coach U), the world’s first coach training organization where coaching was pioneered. During my time as an executive with Coach Inc I participated in growing the organization from under 500 students in the U.S. and Canada to over 7000 students in 36 countries. In 2001 I ended my tenure there as President of Coach Live which developed and produced over 65 live coach training events each year for personal, business and corporate coaches around the world.

 

Certification and Exam Committee Member
I was on the first International Coach Federation’s (ICF) Certification and Exam committee where professional competencies and certification exam criteria were created and developed for coaches around the world. This has since become the most recognized coach certification throughout the world and has become the benchmark for excellence within the profession.

 

2006 Co-Chair of the International Coach Federation (ICF) Global Conference
In 2006 I had the honor of co-chairing the 11th annual International Coach Federation’s (ICF) global conference. This is currently the largest worldwide conference in the coaching profession where coaches from over 50 countries come together.

 

2001 Conference Chair: Celebrating the Spirit of Wisdom, Big Island, Hawaii
This conference was created and designed specifically for the training and development of senior coaches. It was the first of its kind in the coaching industry.

 

2000 Conference Chair: The Business of Human Evolution, Atlanta, GA
This conference was, and still is the most robust conference that has ever been held in the coaching profession featuring five keynote speakers and 72 breakouts over the course of seven days.

 

Founding Member, ICF Chicago Chapter
Locally, I was one of the founding members of the Chicago chapter of the International Coach Federation.

 

Team Coach, Doctors In Touch
In 2004 I was invited to be on the coaching team with Doctors In Touch, a leadership and development organization for physicians. This first-of-a-kind organization assessed and coached physicians on leadership and communication skills to help them reduce the risks of malpractice suits through developing stronger and more effective communication skills with patients and staff members.

 

Charter Faculty, University of Texas at Dallas School of Management
In May of 2005 I joined as a charter faculty member at The University of Texas School of Management in the Executive and Professional Coaching Program. This program was the first academically accredited executive coach training program in the United States. I taught at UTD until 2007, spending two years in the developmental phase of this program.

 

Certification Assessor
I am currently a certification assessor for the International Coach Federation (ICF) assessing Associate (ACC), Professional (PCC) and Master (MCC) certification levels.
In addition, I also do certification assessments for several ICF accredited coach training organizations.

 

 

Personally

I share my life with my husband and very best buddy Brian and our one hundred pound Greater Swiss Mountain Dog, Shiloh. For twenty-five years we have worked hard to develop a life and lifestyle that once was a dream and is now a reality. We live in a beautiful, natural sanctuary along the wooded banks of the Fox River in a sleepy little town about 30 miles outside Chicago. Together we have built a life that is rich with family, good friends and many adventures.

 

I have been known to be fiercely passionate about many things and I have a long history of putting action behind the things I stand for and believe in. I have been called a lot of things, some which can’t be mentioned <grin>, but amongst the ones I can, unconventional, irreverent, visionary and the one I’m most proud of, “crazy, pant-wetting funny” by my darling niece.

 

Some points of interest in my personal life:

Since I can remember I have been a horse enthusiast and have owned and trained horses for much of my life. I have competed in many equestrian events and have trained race horses.

 

I have my teaching degree in the martial art of Tai Chi Chuan and a black belt in Aikido. I also hold rank in Shao Lin Kung Fu and have trained police officers in street self defense. I can often be found out in the woods playing with my swords and spears.

Brian and I have sailed across the Atlantic Gulf Stream three times in a 44 foot yacht. Talk about a religious experience!

 

In our quest for our dream home and personal sanctuary, Brian and I tore down the house we lived in for 18 years and built our dream home. We acted as our own general contractor and I now have more understanding of building and construction than I ever cared to know about! I have my own tool belt and power tools and look forward to similar project again someday.

 

Weight has been my life-long challenge (dieting since the age of 9) and still is. I consider myself a vast resource for lifestyle modifications focusing on wellness, nutrition and fitness.

 

I also love to cook and entertain. When we rebuilt our home I made sure the kitchen and the dining room were two of the biggest rooms in our home.

 

Brian and I love to kayak, bike, hike and RV. We spend lots of time on the river we live on and the 27 miles of natural trails that run adjacent to our property.

 

Half of my immediate family lives in Ireland and much time is spent crossing the pond to be with one another.

 

I spend a lot of my time in community service in a variety of ways. I find that giving is the greatest gift of all and do it as much as I can.

 

I am an animal lover. I am especially fond of dogs. Well, OK I’m a dog nut! We currently have our 100 pounds of pure love, Shiloh, a Greater Swiss Mountain Dog. I am on the board for the Lake Shore Greater Swiss Mountain Dog Club and an active member of the National Greater Swiss Mountain Dog Club. Our girl Shiloh is working towards several titles; in weight pulling, pack-hiking and sheep herding. Shiloh and I are also certified for therapy dog work and spend many hours at nursing homes, hospitals and Reading with Rover programs at area libraries and schools.

 

I am committed to my own personal development and growth and will always seek new teachers, mentors and inspirational individuals to cast their light along my path. In closing, I am a person that honors freedom and truth above all else. These are the things that pull me forward in my life and which I strive to live congruently with every day I am on this planet. This is what I truly value and they define how I walk along my path in life.