Our Coaches

Timothy Ursiny, Ph.D., CBC, RCC

Dr. Tim Ursiny, founder of Advantage Coaching & Training Inc., is a speaker and certified business coach specializing in helping individuals reach peak performance and life satisfaction. His areas of expertise include communication skills, team building, confidence, coaching skills and the overall quality and balance in one’s life.

He received his undergraduate degree from Wheaton College and his doctorate in psychology from Northern Illinois University. He is the member of the International Coach Federation and the Worldwide Association of Business Coaches.

He has published several videos and books on the topics of coaching, conflict resolution, and confidence in the workplace. His book, “The Coward’s Guide to Conflict” is in its fourth printing and has been translated into four foreign languages. Other books include “The Confidence Plan: How to Build a Stronger You” , “Coaching the Sale” and his recent Top Performer’s series.

Dr. Tim is a frequent speaker on a variety of topics that benefit individuals in the workplace and personal life. He has spoken for firms such as:

• Wachovia
• MidAmerica Bank
• Claymore Securities
• Standard and Poor’s
• Loyola
• Merrill Lynch
• Van Kampen Funds
• Morgan Stanley

He has been interviewed and appeared in The Bottom Line, The Chicago Tribune, People Magazine, Readers Digest, First for Women and other periodicals. He has also appeared on CNN radio news, VH-1 News, Total Living and ABC Channel 7 News.

Carole A. Cowperthwaite-O'Hagan, RCC

Energy, relationships, attention to detail, follow-through...these are the core terms most often used to describe Carole's passion for creating breakthrough strategies for her clients. Her special focus has been the world of sales and marketing for 15+ years. With a background in manufacturing, financial services, professional services, retail and IT consulting Carole brings a good cross section of marketing and management experience.

Consistently ranked number one in sales and winner of several corporate awards for excellence in leadership and performance, she is results focused and has a bias for action. Her work has brought her into relationships with business owners, fortune 500 managers and C-Level Executives. Helping people overcome obstacles on their way to achieving personal and corporate goals is Carole's trademark.

Especially gifted in the areas of organization, time-management and building quality relationships Carole can help you or your team excel.

A recognized expert for her work, Carole is also a popular speaker and trainer and is know for her engaging presentations and creative training style. Carole has taught coaching techniques to hundreds of individuals, teams and groups within organizations across the country and internationally. Carole is a Registered Corporate Coach (RCC), an active member of the Worldwide Association of Business Coaches (WABC), and a member of the Illinois Chamber of Commerce. She has a Bachelor of Science degree from Illinois State University.

Coaching focus:

• Executive coaching
• Leadership development
• Corporate training
• Sales training
• Team building
• Communication skills
• Time management skills
• Career development
• Career transitions
• Work life balance
• Personal coaching
• Personal growth

Barbara A. Kay, M.A., LPC., RCC

Barbara has a strong background in business and professional psychology. She received her undergraduate degree and her Masters in Clinical Psychology from Wheaton College. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and a Registered Corporate Coach (RCC). Barbara’s publications include articles in professional forums, Working Mother Magazine and the book, The Top Performer’s Guide to Change.

In addition, Barbara has seven years of experience in various business settings, including executive search in both specialized and major consulting firms.

Her areas of expertise include:

• Coaching
• Executive coaching
• Team development
• Communication & conflict
• Change & transition
• Career growth
• Personal enrichment

At ACT, Barbara combines her business background and psychology training to promote individual and organizational achievement. Her focus is on assessing needs, determining goals and facilitating success. Barbara believes working with a coach is like having a “personal trainer” for professional and organizational development.

Al Depman CLU, ChFC, CMFC, BH

Al is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame. After graduation, Al combined his Liberal Arts studies with 10 years of management experience in the McDonald’s Corporation (including a BH degree from “Hamburger University”) to enter the financial services world 24 years ago. Since then, Al has evolved from an MDRT-level sales rep into a full-time consultant specializing in helping others engineer their business practices to the proverbial “next level” through the use of transferable systems.

Al is the creator of “The Practice Management Assessment” diagnostic tool (see a sample) and resource materials and has authored numerous articles in professional and mass-market publications, with recent contributions to Horsesmouth, Wealth Manager and GAMA International. He writes a popular monthly column for “Mitch Anthony’s Intuitive Advisor” newsletter where he answers practice management questions from financial services advisors. Al also serves as the national Practice Management Consultant for Securian (Minnesota Life). He has also worked with advisors from Waddell & Reed, AIG, LPL, State Farm, Prudential, NY Life, Metropolitan and many independents across the country.

As a consultant, Al provides a four part process in assessing a financial services practice.

1. Diagnosis, using the PracticeTools™ assessment (see a sample) 
2. Review the results with the advisor and accountability partners 
3. Create a series of action steps to grow the practice, including resource materials 
4. Build a timeline for implementation with all parties involved

This is accomplished in a series of teleconferences.

Al resides in Rochester, MN, with wife Barb and three children. Al’s areas of interest include studying classic comic strips, reading, battling the New York Times Crossword puzzle and conducting the Sunday adult education class at his church.