Northern District Transportation Commissioner John Caldwell
Northern District Transportation Commissioner John Caldwell joined The Extra Mile podcast to talk about Veterans Day, challenges facing MDOT, the importance of getting out into the district to see projects and meet constituents and more.
Northern District Transportation Commissioner John Caldwell joined The Extra Mile podcast to talk about Veterans Day, challenges facing MDOT, the importance of getting out into the district to see projects and meet constituents and more.
- Show intro, introducing Northern District Transportation Commissioner John Caldwell - 00:28
- Background information on Commissioner Caldwell - 1:00
- Why he decided to run for transportation commissioner - 01:19
- On Commissioner Caldwell's military service and how it impacts his current job - 01:48
- Commissioner Caldwell on the importance of Veterans Day - 02:37
- What's going on in the Northern District? - 05:08
- The challenges that MDOT faces and how to tackle them - 06:57
- The state lottery and how that's helped out with funding - 08:29
- How inflation has impacted MDOT and construction/maintenance - 10:27
- On getting out on the interstates and highways to check out projects and meet with constituents - 11:25
- Commissioner Caldwell's book “Semper Odyssey – Conflicts of a Marine Reservist” - 12:31
- On the public's perception of MDOT projects' timelines - 14:57
- Special session on economic development project and how transportation ties into that - 15:52
- Any other message to get out to Northern District constituents - 16:30
- Favorite place to grab a bite to eat when out traveling Mississippi highways - 18:56
- Show outro - 21:34
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.