Our Team
Kim Marklund - Trainer
Kim serves as an auxiliary member at Evergreen Fire/Rescue and as the Community Liaison at Genesee Fire/Rescue, both located in the foothills west of Denver. Drawing from personal experience as the parent of a teenage son with autism, she and her co-presenter, Gina, developed a specialized autism awareness and response training program for first responders and other professional audiences.
Together, they have delivered presentations to EMS, fire, Search & Rescue, law enforcement, park rangers, district attorney offices, and healthcare professionals both locally and nationwide. Their goal is to equip emergency personnel with practical tools and strategies to effectively and compassionately engage with individuals on the autism spectrum.
Prior to her advocacy work, Kim had a career as a software project manager and consultant, working with several Fortune 500 companies in Houston. She also co-authored the 75th Anniversary commemorative book for Evergreen Fire/Rescue.
Kim is a dedicated volunteer with both fire departments and enjoys cooking for large, multi-agency training events—including preparing 10 gallons of chili for Evergreen Fire/Rescue’s entry in the Evergreen ‘Big Chili’ Contest. She also volunteers with a local homeless shelter, rural food pantry, and her church.
Kim and her husband are raising two teenagers and a college student, and she brings both personal commitment and professional insight to her work with first responders. She is also a huge fan of God!
Dr. Richard Williams, Mentor to Kim & Gina
Richard O. Williams holds a Ph.D. from University of California, Berkeley and an M.S. from George Washington University in Washington, DC. He spent twenty years in the medical sciences in academia, conducting research and teaching at the University of London; the Pasteur Institute in Paris, France; the Heidelberg University in Heidelberg, Germany; and the World Health Organization in Africa.
In addition to his academic work, Dr. Williams spent part of his career in business development, helping to launch several small companies. He is the author of eight books and five peer-reviewed research articles on the molecular genetics and microbiology of infectious diseases.
His interest in autism began with his daughter, whom he adopted from Thailand in 1979 at the age of two.
Following years of advocacy and support throughout her schooling, his daughter graduated from high school and went on to attend Beacon College in Leesburg, Florida, a college dedicated to students with learning disabilities, ADHD, and autism. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in human services, and Dr. Williams was later elected to the college’s Board of Trustees.
After serving twelve years on the board, Dr. Williams retired and now devotes his time to researching autism and learning disabilities. He co-authors books with Jeffery Freed, who has a clinical and counseling background in autism.
Gina Scarbrough - Trainer
Gina Scarbrough, NRP, FP-C, is an EMS field coordinator and educator with more than two decades of experience in emergency medical services. Since beginning her career in 2003, she has served at every level of EMS, from EMT to flight paramedic.
Recognizing the need for autism training for first responders, healthcare providers, and community groups, Gina partnered with Kim to develop specialized autism training programs. Her goal is to equip participants with practical knowledge and strategies they can use when interacting with autistic individuals in both professional and everyday situations.
This work is especially meaningful to Gina as she has a young adult son on the autism spectrum. She also produces mini-documentaries used to educate EMS providers.
In her spare time, Gina enjoys figure skating, paddleboarding, acrylic painting, and spending time with her four young adult children and family.
