The Shortlist

No notes. No outline. No edits. No regrets. (Okay, maybe a few regrets.)

In this episode of The Short(er) List, Becky and Kyle are going live. After deciding on the episode topic approximately four minutes before hitting record, they just ... went for it. The result? An unfiltered, unscripted, and unrehearsed conversation about one of AEC marketing's most quietly complicated relationships: the interplay between graphic designers and content writers.

Listen to find out if they pull it off. No safety net and nowhere to hide—just raw, organic, and all-natural AEC marketing talk without the artificial colors, preservatives, or added sugar. Sneezes included.

Strong project management isn’t just for the construction jobsite—it’s a critical skill for every AEC marketer. In this episode of The Shortlist, Wendy Simmons is joined by Melissa Richey and Lauren Jane Peterson to explore how marketers naturally step into project management roles across proposals, events, and campaigns. From defining scope and managing risk to leading communication and keeping teams aligned, the MO6 team breaks down practical strategies that keep work moving. We also dive into effective kickoff meetings, visual communication tools, and how project management platforms like ClickUp, Basecamp, and Asana can help streamline workflows. 

Ultimately, successful project management comes down to clear communication and team accountability to stay organized, efficient, and ahead of deadlines—and this episode is chalk full of tips for day-to-day project management.

CPSM CEU Credits: 0.5 | Domain: 6 

On this episode of The Short(er) List, we're leveraging innovative and collaborative solutions to provide comprehensive expertise that's both strategic and sustainable. And we're passionate about it, too.

If that introduction sounds both nonsensical and completely normal, then you're in the right place. Don't worry, we're also guilty. Becky Ellison and Kyle Davis are back to call all of us out, including themselves. From world-class delivery to holistic experience, they're unpacking the words that have been doing the heavy lifting in AEC marketing for so long that they've become tired and worn out.

We dig into the phrases that have taken over proposals and websites, what we actually mean when we use them, and what to say instead. Because the selection committee just read 12 other submittals that said the exact same things. Here’s the deal: your people and your firm actually are unique—so let's start writing like it.

Collaboration is at the heart of how the team at Middle of Six works—and being fully remote means finding tools that keep ideas flowing and groups aligned. In this episode of The Shortlist, MO6ers Kyle Davis and Lauren Jane Peterson share the ins and outs of using Mural, their favorite digital whiteboard platform.

From internal brainstorming sessions and design charrettes to client workshops and presentations, Mural serves as a shared workspace where ideas can be captured, organized, and refined in real time. They also share how Mural's user interface makes it easy to onboard first-time users, encourage live note-taking, and import and export to PowerPoint. With this tool in your toolkit, you just might experience more efficient meetings, stronger alignment, and a shift from presenting ideas to actively building them alongside your team.

CPSM CEU Credits: 0.5 | Domain: 2

Close your eyes. Breathe. Relax your shoulders. The RFP document is only five pages long. The Project Manager won't be on vacation during the interview. The entire team agrees on the deadline for content. There is no page limit. No one cares about margins.

This is ASMR for AEC Marketers.

In this episode of The Short(er) List, Becky and Katy are whispering reassuring sweet nothings into your headphones with a topic that's both absurd and (oddly?) therapeutic. Your hosts are talking smooth and soft. The music is calm and non-descript. Are you in a spa? Did you fall asleep at your desk? What does ASMR even stand for anyway? 

None of that matters. Because we see you, AEC marketers, and we're leaning all the way in. So put in your earbuds, turn down the lights, and let the soothing sounds of stress-free marketing wash over you. 

Losing a pursuit is never fun but it can be one of the most valuable opportunities for growth. In this episode of The Shortlist, Wendy Simmons is joined by Melissa Richey and Katy Byers to talk about what it really means to “fail forward” and how to turn losses into smarter strategy.

From running more effective debriefs and asking sharper questions to digging into scoring feedback and gut-checking your go/no-go decisions, the team shares practical ways to understand what happened and how to improve next time.

And because losing streaks are part of the process, the conversation also leans into the human side: keeping team morale high, celebrating wins (big or small), and recognizing when a new approach or perspective might be exactly what your team needs.

CPSM CEU Credits: 0.5 | Domain: 4

Most firms treat RFP questions as a formality—a quick clarification before the real work begins. But what if the questions you ask (and how you ask them) could actually give you the answers you want? 

In this episode of The Short(er) List, Becky and Melissa are back with their eagle eyes fixed on the details, cutting through the noise on one of the most underutilized tools in the AEC pursuit process: the RFP clarification question. We dig into strategic phrasing and considerations, air a few grievances, and talk about how to use questions to uncover hidden value and efficiencies. Did you even read the RFP? After this episode, there will never be any doubt.

In the AEC industry, RFPs and RFQs are a fact of life—but that doesn’t mean we can’t vent about the quirks that make RFPs unnecessarily challenging. From overly detailed questions squeezed into tight page limits to unclear addenda, Monday due dates, and outdated submission requirements, Middle of Six principals Wendy Simmons and Melissa Richey swap tales of headscratchers and horror stories alongside designers Becky Ellison and Lauren Jane Peterson. 

And in true roast fashion, the panelists also turn the spotlight on themselves, confessing their own “Wildcard" marketer tendencies that show up when proposal deadlines loom. The result is a candid, relatable roast for anyone who has ever opened an RFP and wondered … why?

CPSM CEU Credits: 0.5 | Domain: 4

In this episode, Becky and Melissa spotlight one of the most underrated gems in the proposal world: Adobe Share for Review—the live-PDF reviewing tool that keeps your team organized without derailing your sanity. Between enthusiastic SFR praise and some truly premium BlueBeam shade (sorry to all you BlueBeam lovers out there; but fear not, you will be represented on the pod soon), the duo walks through how this simple tool can turn a chaotic review process into organized bliss. Think tidy comment panels, @ mentions that actually work, and the sheer joy of resolving a markup with one satisfying click.

They also share their best hot tips, workflow hacks, and wise advice for helping even the most hesitant reviewers embrace the magic of SFR. Tune in to see how SFR can make your reviews collaborative, efficient, and—most importantly—painless. 
  

Business development (BD) can feel like a job reserved for firm leaders or dedicated rainmakers, but in reality, it touches everyone in the AEC industry. In this conversation, Wendy Simmons sits down with Middle of Six Senior Marketing Strategist, Katy Byers, to break down how BD intersects with everyone's role.

Katy, a natural-born networker and connector, unpacks common barriers—lack of permission, time, or confidence—and shares practical ways to make BD more accessible and less intimidating. With the right mindset and tools like a CRM, marketers can stop reacting to RFP "opportunities" and start pre-positioning for the next win. 

The big takeaway? BD isn't about selling. It's about consistency, curiosity, practice (because "practice makes progress"), and making space to develop genuine relationships with your firm's clients and project partners. 

CPSM CEU Credits: 0.5 | Domain: 3