MACPA Town Hall (April 2025)

Rebekah (Brown) Olson, CPA, is the CEO of the Maryland Association of CPAs and an influential figure in the accounting profession, recognized as one of Accounting Today's Top 100 Most Influential People in Accounting for 2022.

Joining the MACPA in 2012, Rebekah assumed the position of Manager of Membership Development and Engagement in 2014. In 2018, she was appointed Director of Development, where she served on the leadership team steering the association through the complex challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic and the departure of longstanding CEO Tom Hood.

Passionate about the future of the accounting profession, Rebekah is a sought-after speaker who frequently shares her insights on professional trends and opportunities. As a certified facilitator, she has guided numerous organizations, both in the United States and Canada, in the strategic planning process.

Rebekah's contributions have garnered recognition from various prestigious entities. CPA Practice Advisor recognized her as a top thought leader under 40 in the CPA profession in 2017, 2019, and 2020. In 2019, she was honored with the President's Award by the National Association of Black Accountants (NABA) Baltimore Chapter for her community service. Additionally, Rebekah was named a Maryland Daily Record Leading Women Honoree in 2020.

Rebekah holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, dual specializing in Accounting and Sports Management, from The Max M. Fisher School of Business at The Ohio State University, which she earned in 2009. She obtained her CPA designation in 2011. After gaining invaluable experience at a Top 100 firm, Rebekah decided to leave public accounting and leverage her talents and experiences to work on behalf of the profession at the Maryland Association of CPAs.

Bill Sheridan is a knowledge hunter, content curator and lifelong learner.  As chief communications officer for the Maryland Association of CPAs, he created and co-authors the association’s acclaimed blog; he created and hosts the MACPA’s weekly “Future-Proof” podcast; and he manages the association’s member communications and numerous social networks. He was named one of Accounting Today’s “100 Most Influential People in Accounting” for 2016.

Twyla is a CPA with a diverse, strategy-focused skill set that spans accounting, partnerships, entrepreneurship, and software innovation. Recognized as a Top Women in Accounting, Twyla is committed to inspiring others to try something new, share their experiences and challenge the way things have always been done. A former owner of an advisory-led firm, a female founder of a tech start-up, and now head of accounting partnerships at Mercury, Twyla dedicates her time to the intersection of modern accounting and progressive technology, exploring innovative new ways to push forward the accounting profession.

Byron K Patrick, CPA.CITP, began as a CPA and then merged his passion for technology with accounting. He founded Simplified Innovations Inc, an IT Department servicing CPA firms, and later joined Botkeeper as a General Manager. He then supported leaders in achieving Business, Balance & Bliss at The B3 Method Institute and is currently the CEO of VERIFYiQ, bringing automated Quality Control to accountants. A recognized technology leader, Byron frequently speaks at conferences and contributes to industry publications, including the Journal of Accountancy. He has been an active member of the Maryland Association of CPAs and the AICPA, holding several key positions.