AI, Accountants & Innovation with Byron Patrick

In episode 139 of The Woodard Report Podcast, Heather Satterley sits down with technology leader Byron Patrick, co-founder of TB Academy, to explore the rapidly evolving world of artificial intelligence in accounting. From hands-on AI education for CPAs to the latest tools that are transforming how professionals work and learn, this conversation offers both inspiration and practical takeaways.

From Zapier challenges to AI agents 

Heather and Byron first connected years ago through a Zapier challenge, where they won under the banner of “Heather and Byron’s Magical Wands.” Since then, they’ve teamed up on presentations at Accounting Salon and other events, often pushing the boundaries of what technology can do for accountants. 

Reflecting on an early demo using OpenAI’s API, Byron noted: “We were using agents before anybody was really calling it agents at the time.” 

Launching TB Academy 

Together with Twyla Velhurst, Byron co-founded TB Academy, an education platform designed to help accountants effectively adopt AI. The idea began when the Maryland Association of CPAs sought a practical AI curriculum for its members. 

Byron explains: “We wanted to build something meaningful and lasting… hands on the keyboard and sharing among the community. That’s really how you move the needle.” 

Today, TB Academy offers two core programs: 

• AI Foundations – a four-hour course teaching universal prompting techniques and practical generative AI skills. 

• AI Impact – a case study–driven course demonstrating advanced use cases, from financial analysis to brainstorming and process creation. 

Both courses are available as self-study or live cohorts, and many state societies now offer them for CPE credit. 

Favorite AI tools 

The discussion also covered some of Byron’s go-to AI tools: 

• Gamma.app – “the first presentation builder that actually impressed me,” Byron said. It helps users quickly create sleek slide decks, handling 50–75% of the heavy lifting. 

• Google Notebook LM – which can turn case studies, articles, or meeting notes into podcast-style conversations for easier consumption. Heather marveled: “It’s fake people… creating banter to teach you. That’s incredible.” 

Byron added that this format is an engaging way to absorb lengthy content that often goes unread. 

Balancing AI and authenticity 

Both Heather and Byron shared candid reflections on how they use AI in their professional and personal lives. While ChatGPT helps them brainstorm and outline, they emphasized the importance of maintaining creativity and authenticity. 

Heather noted: “As well as ChatGPT can do… it’s not gonna hit the mark. It’s gotta be from my heart.” 

Byron agreed, explaining how he used AI to outline TB Academy courses but still had to write the actual content himself. 

The future of AI in firms 

Looking ahead, Byron sees two areas on the brink of transformation: 

• Agent Mode in ChatGPT – “It kind of fumbles around now, but it’s close. I think it’s really going to make significant leaps and bounds in what we can do with these tools.” 

• Microsoft Copilot Ecosystem – despite early struggles, Byron believes the full integration across Word, Excel, Outlook, and SharePoint will be a game-changer for accounting firms. 

AI Education as a competitive advantage 

TB Academy currently partners with six state societies (Maryland, Virginia, Oregon, Massachusetts, Washington, and Louisiana) with more collaborations on the horizon. These partnerships show the profession’s growing recognition that AI is not just a trend but a core competency for accountants moving forward. 

As Byron emphasized: “We want to get it into as many people’s hands as possible.” 

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Thank you to our show sponsor, Canopy!
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This article was generated by AI and reviewed and edited by a human.