The Shortlist

A frequent debate for AEC Marketers is the classic “chicken or the egg” question: which comes first—design or content? In Episode 65 of The Shortlist, Wendy Simmons is joined by Middle of Six’s Senior Creative Strategist Becky Ellison and Marketing Strategist Kyle Davis to explore both sides of the discussion. Should content shape the design, ensuring a clear and structured message? Or should design lead the way, providing a framework for content to fit into?  This ongoing debate plays out in marketing teams every day, influencing how proposals, presentations, and branding materials come to life. Wendy, Becky, and Kyle share their insights, experiences, and practical approaches for tackling this challenge. Whether you're a designer, writer, or marketer, this conversation offers insightful takeaways through a heated and humorous discussion that just might help you solve this age-old dilemma!  CPSM CEU Credits: 0.5 | Domain: 2

In Episode 64 of The Shortlist, Wendy Simmons is joined by Middle of Sixers Melissa Richey and Becky Ellison for a candid and comical discussion on proposal submission confessions.  Harkening back to Episode 46, Night of the Living Deadline, this conversation dives into the best, worst, and wildest submission experiences—crazy requests, impossible demands, and unpredictable personalities. From horror stories to hard-learned lessons, it’s all on the table.  Whether you’re managing a team or balancing company goals, workplace stress is inevitable—especially in a high-stakes industry with relentless deadlines. The pressure to succeed can take a serious toll, but by sharing our struggles, we can find camaraderie and maybe even some laughter along the way.  CPSM CEU Credits: 0.5 | Domain: 4

As challenging as it may be to break away from your day-to-day responsibilities to attend a conference, there is tremendous value in being immersed in new ideas, best practices, and inspiring work.  But we don't have to limit ourselves and our learning to the AEC industry alone. In this episode, Middle of Six Marketing Strategist Grace Takehara shares her experience attending Circles, a national creative design conference. Listen in as Grace shares her key takeaways including how to foster your creative spark, unlocking your creative potential, and what truly matters in design efforts.  Grace underscores that the value can extend to your internal team or even your entire company by inspiring others to consider new approaches and attend conferences that push their knowledge further.  CPSM CEU Credits: 0.5 | Domain: 1

The importance of psychological safety, particularly in high-pressure industries like architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC), is having a moment—and for good reason! This episode of The Shortlist delves into how stress, especially secondary stress from pressure and insecurity, can negatively affect communication and team dynamics.    Middle of Sixers Wendy, Allison, and Becky share their own experiences and emphasize that psychological safety—defined as a workplace environment based on respect, trust, and open communication—is essential for fostering creativity, collaboration, and overall well-being. In short, when people feel safe, they perform better, which in turn leads to better outcomes for businesses, whether it's the bottom line or the quality of work produced.  CPSM CEU Credits: 0.5 | Domain: 6

Middle of Six Principals Wendy Simmons, Melissa Richey, and Allison Tivnon kick off Season 4 of The Shortlist by diving into strategic planning methods for AEC firms. We explore how these plans can range from formal retreats to informal, and why it’s critical to have a clear, actionable strategy in place—especially in the face of economic challenges like inflation, government budget deficits, and increased competition. Whether your firm’s plan is a detailed, regularly updated roadmap or more of an ad-hoc approach, it’s crucial to align the team around a shared vision and purpose. Tune in for a conversation on how to craft a plan that will help your firm stay resilient and focused, and why strategic planning is so critical. CPSM CEU Credits: .5 | Domain: 2