MDOT presents the Extra Mile Podcast.

Welcome in to another edition of the Extra Mile Podcast presented by the Mississippi Department of Transportation. I'm Paul Katool, and as always, joined by my cohost Will Craft. And Will, thank you for holding things down last last episode, writing solo. I spent the entire week on jury duty, a murder case.

Bobby Shmurder.

Pretty crazy, but a much happier subject today. We have truly one of the nicest, coolest people at MDOT. We have miss Amy Hornback, who is the secretary to the Mississippi Transportation Commission. Amy is awesome.

Thank you so much for joining us and speaking with us today.

Well, thank you. If I'm one of the coolest people, then MDOT's in trouble. But thank you for the introduction.

We truly mean that for sure. And listen, you've been here a while and we'll kind of get into that. But kind of what's your background? What were you doing before you got to MDOT? What led you here?

Well, I graduated from Mississippi College with a degree in communication, and I started work right away with American Red Cross. And I did fundraising statewide for them. I did not make much money. They share they shared a grant with Alabama. So, I had to find a second job to kind of make it through at that time and I worked for the Jackson Generals which was the Astros double a team here in Jackson.

I was the press box attendant. Oh, nice. That was a fun job. Worked with a radio announcer.

I haven't thought about them in a long time.

Used to have a little- it was a little bat. It used to stay in my truck all the time. A little short one.

Yes. So that was a fun job. And the Red Cross, even though I didn't make much money, it was a wealth of experience.

I got to go to Puerto Rico and work three weeks after a hurricane. Did a telethon with Telemundo and went to North Dakota and worked after a flood. So it was a great job to have learning experience. And from there, I went to Gayfer's department store and handled their advertising and gave for girl teen board, did all the fashion shows. And then from there, went to McCrae's and started the charity sale for them.

So Very nice. One of us, a communications pro. Yeah. What? One of us.

Well, speak yeah. Par parlay right on her. Not parlay. Segue. Whatever.

Continuing, what's so right after that, I mean, you were at Gayford's was no. McCrae's was the last one. What brought you to M dot?

Well, Gayford's got bought out by Dillard's, and then I went to McCraes, and then they merged with Belk, and I was tired of moving. I was tired of you know, I wanted something consistent. And my husband said, well, why don't you look at state government? I thought, well, okay. I don't know what I'd do for the state, but I applied with the green app.

Still had the green app back then, and there was a special projects officer job at MDOT. And I really didn't even know what it was what department it was in or anything. Found out it was public affairs, and I didn't know really outside of the orange trucks, they were still orange back then. I didn't know much about MDOT. So I asked them to put together a little packet for me.

I could take home and look over, and it was wildflower brochures. And so I, like, memorized. Oh, nice. Wildflower brochures in the districts, and I didn't know what they were gonna ask me. So I came and interviewed, and the rest is history.

Well, I can I will say one thing on that? I mean, we've done several interviews with with people for positions and things in our time here. I don't know that anybody has prepped that to that level.

Don't know that I've really asked some of those questions, to be honest. But yeah. No. That's impressive to say at least. Well, look.

What? Only twenty five years ago did you think that you at that moment, you think, well, I'm I'm gonna retire here.

No. I didn't. And I certainly didn't think I always thought I'd be in public affairs. That's, you know, what I went to school to do. And the commissioners at the time, I've only been in public affairs about three and a half years, and they called me up.

I thought to write an editorial or something. And the secretary to the commission was retiring, and they asked me did I want the job? And I was like, I don't I don't know what she does. And they really couldn't tell me much either. But I thought about it for the full two weeks because I loved my job in public affairs, but I took it.

And I'm twenty one years later, I'm still here in the same position. So it's awesome. It's been great.

That's amazing. That is that's a long time. Good amount of time. And so tell us about kind of, yeah, let's go to the present day. So kind of what are you what is your day to day as the secretary to the Mississippi Transportation Commission?

Well, I pretty much manage their Jackson office. Each of the commissioners has their own separate office in their district. So I manage their Jackson office. I help put with the staff of Van Dyke put together the agenda for their bimonthly meetings on the second and fourth Tuesday. The big thing is to keep the minute books.

We still keep

Oh, wow.

Actual books, huge books that they've had since the nineteen twenties. The commission's been here since 1916. So it's a long time of minute books, and you can still we have library downstairs. You can go look. And present day, we still keep them.

They have to be formatted a certain way and and make sure everything's in there authorizing the director to be able to sign.

That's those giant books.

Giant books.

I've seen them.

And so that's a a big part of the job is being the record keeper. Like, any summons or garnishment that employment get, they all come through our office. And I work a lot with legal. I do a lot of research. People call in.

We had a case. Three divisions called me about something from the nineteen sixties. And Oh, wow. The commissioners at that time had made a deal to have an agreement on a piece of property, and nobody could find it. It was never in the minutes.

That was kind of big back in the day that maybe they would make some deals and they can only speak through their minutes by law. So if it's not in the minutes, it didn't happen. So a lot of that, a lot of research day to day.

Wow. That is good stuff. Really, you're a great example of people in state government. You know, you don't think about the people that work behind the scenes, but like you need people like you that know how things work, that know the records of everything. So I'm sure you just get an insane number of calls.

And hopefully, we did not create doing this episode even though it works for you. It was like, oh, Amy will know that.

But you never know. You never know.

For sure.

And and look, I wanna add to that. I mean, this is not just one cycle of commissioners we're talking about here. You have worked or served with eight commissioners. Right?

Eight commissioners. I have Dick Hall, Wayne Brown, and Bill Minor, who have all since passed away, hired me back in 2004. I started in 2005 with them, February. So, yes. And I'm now on my eighth commissioner with commissioner Busby coming in.

Yeah. I'm sure you've seen lots of preferences on how different ones wanted things done or that nature, but you stuck you've made it so far through all of those different changes.

Well, it you know, I've I've learned over the years to keep my mouth shut, which is not always easy for me. I've I remember one time with commissioner Hall asking him, can I give my 2¢? And he said, well, you usually do. Oh. And I thought, well, if you listen to me more.

Right. Now I try to keep my mouth shut unless they ask me for something, but I've been lucky. They all the commissioners have been great. Different personalities. Every time a new commissioner comes in, it changes the dynamic of the commission.

But one good thing about the commission, even with coming from different political parties, their goal is the same. So I I've never felt like their politics played a big role because they were looking out for the safety and efficiency of transportation in their district and for the whole state. So

It is it is a great example of sort of three headed, you know, animal that that watches over all of the the infrastructure things. While they do have their own different ideas and opinions and politics, yeah, we often see that the three commission come together and and and be on the same page as far as moving Mississippi forward. I love that. We're a little different structure than some of our other states too, so I I still appreciate having those folks, those guys.

Oh, yeah. I mean, we're the only elected commission in the country, which is I think just having the people represented is is huge. I mean, I always tell people, we still elect our coroner. So Yeah. Sure.

Like to elect people here. And over the years, I've had other states call me and ask about the system because they they had looked at going to that. Oh, wow. So no system's perfect, but but I think ours is really good and has worked well over the years.

We concur. Definitely. So listen, mentioned twenty five years. There's been a lot of stuff that's happened. Why don't you start us off with some let's let's get into some stories.

So do you have any memorable like time stories here at MDOT that you like to kind of shout out?

Yeah, let's see. One was from public affairs. We had a lot of projects going on in the Central District for sure. And we were trying to come up with a campaign. We'd sit around and brainstorm, which I'm sure y'all still do.

And we came up don't laugh, but we thought it was good at the time. Here a dot, there a dot, everywhere in MDOT. Oh. Because we have projects everywhere, and we started the pilot project for the Go MDOT cameras. Oh, yeah.

So we traveled Jackson, Desoto County, and the coast, and did press conferences and kinda launched that system and brought the media in in different areas to brainstorm on where they thought the cameras should go. Oh, wow. So that was a really cool thing to be a part of and see how much it's grown since then.

Yeah. That's exactly what I was gonna say. I mean yeah. And now you turn on the TV. I

mean, you

ever see, you know, live feeds, it's it's nine times out of 10, if not, you know, more us.

It is. Feed. And get that great PR for free. That those are our cameras out there. It's cool.

That is really see that. Know, being a part of the starting that. That's pretty cool.

That is cool.

And then with the commission, there's a there's a lot of different things, but I've seen a lot of projects start and be completed. Highway Nine's one for Toyota.

Oh, yeah.

Had the groundbreaking in, like, 2011. And a year later, we had Ribbon cutting. It was quick.

That's very fast.

Yeah. The DOT secretary came and spoke and that was a real good one. And then, of course, I-two sixty nine, which

Oh, yeah.

Was about eight years ago. I mean, huge things that, you know, you think you're not just in the there will be people in the future that will go back and see our names and things that we were a part of, and that's pretty cool to know.

Absolutely. I would I wanna add to to February. I remember that I think I had just I mean, maybe maybe a month because it was in July or August sometime of that year. I remember, I had just come to MDOT and got up there for that event. It was cold and raining and the wind was blowing.

I think you have a great picture of of y'all are all kind of at the podium or on the stage, and the wind hits, and everybody's paper and wind. But at the same time, everybody's going a different direction. Yes. Great event. Good good project.

Not so ideal weather wise.

That was a wild day. Was actually funny enough the first day I ever met Will.

That's right.

That was the first conversation we ever had. And it was cool because it was underneath the, like, of the overpasses. It

was like

That was kind of surreal.

It was very surreal that day. I remember going up, you know, 55 or whatever, you know, to get up there. I think they still had officers maybe at those ramps. You know? They weren't letting public travel, but you turned down it.

I mean, kinda nobody as far as you

could see. It felt a

little eerie driving down that brand new four lanes. You know?

It did. And I think I think that was the project that Mitch Turner sent me coordinates on how to get there.

Woah. Okay.

A non engineer. I mean, I need a turn by the McDonald's. Yeah. And I thought, bitch, this ain't gonna work, but I got there. So That's pretty good.

That's pretty good. Yeah. For sure. Hey. Listen.

We we like to ask a lot of our internal guests this, and we are big MDOT people. Me and Will, you know, kind of youngins. Don't know

if you

can say that anymore about us, really. But listen, you've been you've been here a good while. And so what's kept you here? Like kind of sell us on state government, but really MDOT, you know, about the MDOT family and why you've you've remained here.

The people are wonderful. There is it really is like a family. I know we say that a lot, people are probably like, ugh. But it really is. Even when I first started, they used to have birthday parties for everybody.

And we finally quit doing it because it was just too much on on the 10th Floor. We was like, cake every week. But it's always been about not just your family here, but your family at home was important too. Mhmm. And they emphasized that.

And I've gotten married since I've been here, had two children, and to know that they were just as important to the people I worked with as as what I did. And and the life balance of of being able to be the homeroom mom and and go to the Christmas parties and was real good. And and and my kids love it here too. They have a good view of MDOT, so carrying it in.

Yeah. Love it. I would I would second that as well. I think we've said it a billion times. And and you're right.

I do think sometimes people probably scoff at

it out there for

the amount of times we say it, but we're not kidding. We don't rehearse this part at all. It really is. And I I I've I've said it once several episodes ago. This may have been a year or more ago, but I hope that everyone has an opportunity to work somewhere that has been as awesome and familial as what, I have encountered in my few years here.

I think I'm coming up on maybe eight years or something like that. And all of that I I did get married right before I got here, but, had both of my girls and then got another one coming, all of that through here, and it's been such a blessing to people. You know, you never wanna disappear from work or anything like that and, you know, look up and two weeks have gone by. But having babies, that does happen occasionally. And, man, I just never fear for is everything gonna be okay?

Is is the work being tended to? And and not only is it being tended to, it's probably being better. It's probably being done better than even I have would have done it my myself. Love love us some MDOT around here.

Yeah. Yeah. Me too.

No doubt. For sure. Well, lots of good information, today, Amy. Thank you so much for, for speaking with us. We do have some, these were fun questions.

We have some more fun. We're doubling up on the fun.

Oh, wait. I I have one more before we even get to those two. Forgot to mention this. So I think you and our executive director.

Yes.

Also, work together at the first iteration of of his MDOT service.

Yes. Let's see. I started in 2000, and I think Brad started in 1999 when commissioner Hall came aboard. He worked for commissioner Hall, and I was in public affairs on the 10th Floor, and Brad hung out in our division a lot because we were all younger back then, and we go to lunch together. And, yeah, Brad's great.

He likes to have a good time.

There's no doubt.

I think yeah. I I don't remember if it was you or he that told me that funny there's a funny story about, I guess, when y'all were sitting, you know, at the the bimonthly commission meeting that's down around the little conference table in the commission room, and y'all are sort of seated at at the the ends of it now. And what did he say? Like, never would have thought.

Yeah. He said, did you ever think back then that we'd be sitting in opposite ends of this table? I said, no. Not unless we were being called up for something. They got in trouble?

That's funny.

It was pretty good. How about you? Time flies when you're having fun.

That's right.

Twenty five years, and, man, we appreciate you. No

doubt. Thank you.

Sure. With that.

Yeah. Yeah. Will, you wanna take the the food question?

I

We're bringing it back. I will.

Yeah. It has been a while. We've had a lot of repeat guests, and I hate to make them answer the same question over and over. Not that we don't still love to eat. But what we've we've asked a lot of times, you know, a lot of our legislators and elected officials that come on the show, they spend a lot of time, as you might imagine, traveling the state, going here and there.

And if there was, we'd like to ask them, is there a restaurant or a hole in the wall sort of, you know, dive bar or something that maybe you don't get to go to very often or you just came upon one time and never forget it. I always wanna try and go back there when I'm in the area or just even if you don't have that favorite food spot.

Gosh. I love to eat. So I have a lot of favorite food spots. Oxford's got a bunch. But I think Airport Grocery in Cleveland.

Oh, wow. Okay.

They have great tamales. Like, I'll just get a half dozen tamales for lunch, and it's great.

Commissioner Simmons, we're gonna eat some tamales.

That's right. That's right. I love Cleveland. So

Amen. Great. I don't think have we had that answer yet? No. Absolutely not.

Always I've mentioned this before. I'm like, how do I have not I never heard of it. I should know every single restaurant in Mississippi. It's not that big of a place where it actually is. That's dumb logic.

But that's a great answer. I second the Oxford. Lots of lots of stuff up in Oxford. And then the other question we like to ask, of course, MDOT Public Affairs, we love to go to concerts. Me and Mikey, Michael Flood just caught one last Thursday.

We always love to check out music, but I'm sure you're a big music person as well. What's a memorable concert that you've attended in the past that you'd like to shout out?

Let's see. I've I've been to a lot of concerts. Let's see. Saw Hitty and the Blowfish at Jubilee Jam. That was a hundred years ago.

Death Leopard in Memphis when I was at Ole Miss. That was great.

Cool. Yeah.

But I think my favorite, I love Old Country and I love Randy Travis. So I saw Randy Travis, Tammy Wannett.

Oh, wow.

And Alan Jackson at the Jackson Coliseum in 1990, and I was on the front row. Oh, wow.

That is pretty cool.

So that that's probably my favorite.

That's a great one.

Yeah.

We need to bring back those Coliseum concerts.

I know. I mean, I love the amphitheater.

Sure. We do too. We talk we talk about it a good bit. No doubt. And I think I mean, I always go to or try to at least catch one or two of the rodeo concerts.

They usually have some good talent. Some some of the older talent I have not seen. I think what was it? The brothers, the older

Oh, the Oak Ridge Boys? Yeah. Yeah.

I think I saw them a couple of years ago there.

I saw them walking down the street, working on the 1st Floor.

Really?

They were playing at the rodeo, and I was like, you know, the one with the long beard? And I looked. I was like, that's the Oakridge boys. Like, three of them walking down the street. So Yeah.

You never know. Just out of my mouth.

No. I never thought I would go see them in concert. No.

You know? They're great.

Well, good stuff. Amy, thank you so much for joining us. An OG MDOT employee. Right? We love it.

Great information, and we'll just go ahead and wrap things there. We wanna thank our listeners, our viewers for tuning into the Extra Mile Podcast. You can watch and listen to episodes by visiting gom..com/theextramile. Follow us on social media at Mississippi. DOT is the handle.

We wanna thank our producer editor Drew Hall over there. Remember to drive smart out there on Mississippi highways.