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.
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.”
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:
Both courses are available as self-study or live cohorts, and many state societies now offer them for CPE credit.
The discussion also covered some of Byron’s go-to AI tools:
Byron added that this format is an engaging way to absorb lengthy content that often goes unread.
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.
Looking ahead, Byron sees two areas on the brink of transformation:
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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This article was generated by AI and reviewed and edited by a human.