Your Orchid ABA Therapy Team

Meet the founder, the leadership, and the BCBA clinical supervisors who make up your child’s ABA therapy team at Orchid Academy.

Leadership Team

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Dr. Autumn Flick

Founder | PhD, LBA

All children are a blessing. I've enjoyed watching children grow and thrive across all ability levels throughout my career. I've served children and their families as both a special education teacher and a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). Teaching classes at the University of Washington and Seattle University allowed me to reach more children by coaching early career educators. Most recently, I experienced the miracle of becoming part of a family with four incredible children when I married my husband, Christopher Flick.

At Orchid, we always focus on the whole family as part of our mission but becoming a mom filled me with renewed energy. I am committed to helping families, including siblings, work together to improve the quality of their family life by sharing our toolbox with you.

I always knew it was challenging when a parent was afraid to take their child to the grocery store because he was a flight risk. I remember taking a client on his first trip and watching the relief on his mom's face when she knew this was the beginning of many more successful adventures. As a mom now, I have a deeper understanding of how important being able to take a child to the grocery store is to a family. It's driven me to design innovative systems, and procedures that allow us to train employees better to ensure faster, lasting results. At Orchid we will help your child (and family) grow quickly, sustainably and lovingly. With us, you don't have to worry anymore.

Education: PhD, Special Education, University of Washington · BCBA Coursework, University of Washington · Master's of Art in Teaching, Seattle Pacific University · Bachelor's in Public Relation, Central Washington University

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Christopher Flick

Chief Executive Officer

Christopher Flick joined Orchid in 2023 as Chief Operating Officer (COO) and led a major overhaul of the company's organizational structure. He put a new leadership structure in place and introduced new technologies, and he runs the behind-the-scenes operations that support our services at Orchid.

Christopher has worked for and with multiple Fortune 500 companies in operations and business development with his most recent role working for a publicly traded software company where he delivered consultative solutions for complex business problems. Christopher attended Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana.

As the father of four amazing children, Christopher enjoys spending time with his kids and wife in the mountains skiing or on the rivers fly fishing and enjoys serving his community through coaching youth basketball.

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Katelyn

Executive Director of Operations

I spent over two decades in technology, working on software implementation and customer experience. I started out crisscrossing the United States as part of an implementation team, where I fell in love with the details of operations and with making processes run better.

I've worked as both a customer and a vendor in the customer experience space, so I understand the challenges on both sides of the table and how to match technology to an organization's operational goals.

I take pride in building long-term client relationships and working closely with vendors to roll out software internally. Throughout my career, some of my favorite work has been helping my team members grow in their careers.

You might wonder how I came to Orchid Academy with my technical background. My connection began in 2017 when Dr. Autumn Flick saw not just our son's present, but his potential future. For nearly five years, Orchid's Academy ABA Services shaped his growth. During the pandemic, I remotely joined his sessions and saw the work of BCBAs and BTs firsthand. The personalized programs gently challenged him, and he kept growing. Orchid's support for us as parents mattered just as much. Dr. Autumn came to IEP meetings to partner with our son's teachers so both sides were supporting our son's development. She provided parent training on how to implement strategies in our home to support his growth in all of his environments.

Seeing the daily success of his programming inspired me to contribute to Orchid Academy's Vision. Since September 2022, I've worked behind the scenes on operational and team development goals as a Business Consultant. In June 2024, I proudly joined Orchid Academy as Executive Director of Operations. Now, I'm privileged to do work I love for an organization that makes life-changing outcomes for learners, caregivers, and team members a reality.

Outside of work, you'll find me outdoors: hiking, camping, enjoying lake activities, or simply spending cherished moments with loved ones. During summers, swimming with our son is a favorite pastime.

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Dr. Christy Warner

Executive Director of Clinical Services | BCBA-D, LBA

I started working in special education in 2008 and quickly fell in love with watching children learn and realize their full potential. I've had the privilege of serving children K-12 and young adults in residential school and day school settings, and now the clinic setting at Orchid.

I received my Master's in Special Education- Severe Disabilities from Simmons College and my ABA Specialization from Western New England University (WNEU). I have been a BCBA since 2013. In 2019, I completed my doctorate in behavior analysis through WNEU. My area of focus was the assessment and treatment of behaviors of concern, specifically utilizing practical functional assessment (PFA) and skills-based treatment (SBT) to produce meaningful outcomes.

I am passionate about providing safe, compassionate, and individualized services to build skill repertoires that lead to meaningful changes for both the child and their family. I enjoy building capacity in others through training, and collaborating with service providers and parents to help children succeed.

Client Services Team

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Kim Chu

Clinical Supervisor | MA, BCBA, LBA

I have been working with children with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental conditions since I graduated with a B.A. in Child Psychology in 2016. After witnessing how ABA intervention can make such a big difference in children's lives, I decided to go back to school for my M.A. in Special Education with a focus on ABA. What I love most about working with kids is seeing them make progress and grow every day. When I am not working, I love hiking and exploring new coffee shops.

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Jess Rueda

Clinical Supervisor | MEd, BCBA, LBA

Hey! My name is Jess. I began working in the ABA field as a behavior technician during undergrad. I received my Bachelors in Arts in Psychology at Carthage College in 2017. I received my Masters of Education in Curriculum and Instruction in Applied Behavior Analysis through Arizona State University in December 2019. I became a BCBA in March 2020. A fun fact: I became a certified Yoga Instructor and received my Social-emotional facilitator credential in June 2022!

I am very passionate about providing compassionate, evidence-based, and holistic approaches to treatments. I believe collaboration across families and other therapies supports in providing the best care for our clients.

I have experience working with learners ages 3-18 years old from many backgrounds and cultures. My favorite part is seeing learners progress in sessions and at home with their families!

A bit about me: I have two amazing dogs and a fiancé that I love spending time with! I enjoy yoga, running, obstacle course challenges, painting, gardening, and hanging out with family and friends.

Betsy Utesch

Clinical Supervisor | MAABA, BCBA, LBA

Hi there! I'm Betsy, and I've been in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) since 2013. I began as a behavior technician while pursuing my undergraduate degree in my home state of Wisconsin (Go Badgers!). Since then, I've had the privilege of working in both Illinois and Washington. In May 2022, I earned my M.A. in Applied Behavior Analysis from Ball State University, and in December 2022, I became a BCBA.

I'm passionate about helping learners grow in self-advocacy, functional communication, social awareness, and individualized daily living skills. I work closely with families and care teams, and I care deeply about amplifying the voices of people on the autism spectrum. Throughout my career, I've worked with individuals ranging from 18 months to 18 years old in various settings, including homes, clinics, communities, and schools.

On a more personal note, I relocated to the Pacific Northwest in 2021 and have embraced the region's endless outdoor adventures (and coffee, of course!). When I'm not out hiking, you can find me exploring new restaurants, attending concerts, and cheering for my favorite sports teams.

Ready to meet the team?

Reach out and our team will follow up about next steps for your child’s autism therapy.