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.

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.

Drew Hall is an award-winning media producer with the Mississippi Department of Transportation, bringing more than 15 years of experience in video production, photojournalism, podcasting, and public affairs communications. A graduate of Mississippi State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and an emphasis in Broadcasting, Drew began his career in television news as a photojournalist, working for WDBD Fox 40 and WJTV News Channel 12 in Jackson. During nearly 11 years in broadcast news, he covered breaking news, feature stories, and live events throughout Mississippi while developing the ability to tell compelling visual stories under tight deadlines. Drew joined MDOT in 2019, where his work has expanded from video production and photography to strategic communications, multimedia campaigns, podcast production, and production leadership. He serves as the producer and editor of The Extra Mile, MDOT’s podcast featuring conversations with transportation leaders, engineers, policymakers, and other voices connected to Mississippi’s transportation system. His work has received recognition from organizations including the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), the Public Relations Association of Mississippi (PRAM), and the National Association of Government Communicators (NAGC). His honors include awards for The Extra Mile, “Don’t Trash Mississippi,” “I-269: Five Years of Economic Boom,” and MDOT Remembers Hurricane Katrina. In his current role, Drew oversees photographer scheduling and production logistics, helps manage the division’s digital media assets and archiving systems, and coordinates drone compliance and operations. He is an Adobe Certified Professional in Digital Video using Premiere Pro and an FAA-licensed remote pilot. Drew’s passion is using video, photography, audio, and storytelling to make complex subjects accessible, connect organizations with their audiences, and showcase the people and stories behind Mississippi’s transportation system.

Oxford Mayor Robyn Tannehill: Robyn Tannehill was elected Oxford, Mississippi’s 36th Mayor on June 6, 2017. Upon graduating from the University of Mississippi in 1992, Robyn worked in the University of Mississippi’s Department of Public Relations before being named Assistant Director of the Oxford-Lafayette County Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Foundation. Then, as Executive Director of the Oxford Tourism Council, she promoted Oxford as a tourism destination. Robyn led her team in conceiving, organizing and conducting the first annual Double Decker Arts Festival. That tourism team went on to be named the State of Mississippi’s “Most Outstanding Convention and Visitors Bureau” with a budget of $500,000. In 1998, Robyn made the decision to become a full-time mother and community volunteer. In those years, Robyn spent many hours working with the Oxford School District’s Parent Teacher Organizations and volunteering in the school district. In 2011 she co-chaired the $30 million bond referendum campaign for the Oxford Public School District. That same year, Robyn was recognized as Oxford School District’s Citizen of the Year. Her years of committed community service led Robyn to run for, and win election as, Alderman of Ward 2 in Oxford in 2013.