Hello Eric,
I am happy to hear this solution was adequate! It is definitely possible to trigger the workflow button via JavaScript or using the Rules Manager.
Using the Rules manager, you could use the Run Script Action. The script would use jQuery or vanilla JavaScript to trigger the click event on the target workflow button, it will just require you to know the unique tpc-id of the button (FieldName).
The script would look something like the following (where workflow is your buttons unique FieldName):
$("[name=workflow]").click()
Of course this can also be used without the rules manager in an embedded script.
Please let me know if you have any other questions!
Cheers,
Josh