Hattiesburg Mayor Toby Barker
The Extra Mile team took the show on the road to talk to Hattiesburg Mayor Toby Barker in city hall. He discussed his path to being elected mayor, working with MDOT to accomplish transportation infrastructure goals, the explosion of growth in the Hub City and more.
The Extra Mile team took the show on the road to talk to Hattiesburg Mayor Toby Barker in city hall. He discussed his path to being elected mayor, working with MDOT to accomplish transportation infrastructure goals, the explosion of growth in the Hub City and more.
- Show intro - 00:28
- Background and how Mayor Barker made it to Hattiesburg - 01:33
- What led him to run for Mayor of Hattiesburg after 10 years in the Mississippi House or Representatives - 02:34
- How does the City of Hattiesburg work with MDOT to accomplish transportation infrastructure goals - 04:05
- Fun story of how Mayor Barker met MDOT Southern District Transportation Commissioner Tom King - 04:37
- Transportation projects going on in the City of Hattiesburg - 06:50
- Unique considerations to be made when planning transportation with two university in the city (Southern Miss and William Carey) - 11:46
- What does Mayor Hattiesburg attribute the explosion of growth in the city to? - 13:24
- Impact of Longleaf Trace on the Hattiesburg economy - 15:19
- Hattiesburg Mayor Toby Barker's favorite place to eat when out traveling on Mississippi highways - 17:36
- Star-Spangled Celebration on the River, Fourth of July collaboration between Hattiesburg and Petal - 18:50
- Show outro - 20:33
Creators and Guests
Host
Paul Katool
Paul Katool joined the Mississippi Department of Transportation Public Affairs Division in 2016 as the agency’s first Social Media Strategist. In 2019, he was promoted to Digital Media Manager, where he led the creation of MDOT’s nationally award-winning Extra Mile Podcast. In 2022, Paul assumed the role of Deputy Director of Public Affairs, which includes helping to run the day-to-day operations of the division.
Host
Will Craft
Will Craft joined MDOT in 2018 after serving on Senator Thad Cochran’s and Senator Hyde Smith’s staffs. Beginning in the Government Affairs role at MDOT, Will assisted executive leadership in matters of policy, stakeholder engagement, legislative affairs, and external communications. Since joining the Public Affairs team in 2023, Will is most often recognized as one of the “podcast guys”. The Award Winning Extra Mile Podcast is hosted by Will and Paul Katool, and produced by Drew Hall.
Producer
Drew Hall
Drew Hall is a media producer with experience in video production and journalism. He currently works in the Public Affairs Division of the Mississippi Department of Transportation, where he shoots and edits a range of content, including producing the award-winning podcast The Extra Mile. Drew holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from Mississippi State University and has received industry recognition, including an AASHTO Best Audio Production Award. Previously, Drew worked as a photojournalist for News Channel 12 and Fox 40 News, developing his skills in visual storytelling and news production. Drew is married to Courtney Ann Hall, of Corinth, MS, and has one son, Jackson.