Creators and Guests

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.

Secretary to the Mississippi Transportation Commission

MDOT Executive Director: Brad White held various positions in politics and government before being appointed Executive Director of the Mississippi Department of Transportation in July, 2021 and was subsequently confirmed by the Mississippi Senate in early 2022. As MDOT Executive Director, Brad has worked alongside the Transportation Commission and MDOT’s Executive Management Team to successfully address employee retention through a series of agency-wide salary adjustments, as well as pursue additional recurring revenue for MDOT Highway and Bridge projects, as well as the state’s multimodal system. A former President of the Southern Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (SASHTO), Brad is a member of First Baptist Church of Madison where he has served on the Personnel Committee. He received a Bachelor of Science degree from Belhaven University in Business Management. He and his wife Colby reside in Madison with their two sons, Barrett and Jack.

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.

Frank Howell became Chief Executive Officer of Delta Council on January 1, 2019. Howell served as Director of the Delta Council Development Department from April 2002 until May 2017. As Director, he was responsible for the organization’s regional economic and community development initiatives. Prior to serving as Director of the Development Department, he served for seven years as Director of Public Affairs and Communications for the regional economic and agricultural development organization based in Stoneville. Frank, a native of Clarksdale, graduated from The McCallie School and Rhodes College with a B.A. in Political Science. He and his wife, Laura, have two sons, Erik, and Prentiss.

Nick is a 2018 graduate of the University of Mississippi. After graduating, he moved to Jackson and worked for the state senate under Lt. Governor Tate Reeves, and then joined his staff in the Governor’s office. Nick briefly moved to Washington D.C. in 2021 where he worked to advance pro-sportsmen policies in state legislatures in the Mid-Atlantic for the Congressional Sportsmen’s foundation. In 2022, Nick ran a United States Senate race in Nevada, running the closest race of any challenge to an incumbent that cycle. After that race, Nick went on to work for Governor DeSantis’ political operation and then his presidential campaign. From there, Nick returned to Nevada to start his own political consulting firm, focusing on state political action committees and state legislative races. In 2025, Nick and his wife decided to retire from the political lifestyle and return to Mississippi to raise a family. Nick joined the MDOT team as the Director of Government Affairs in June of 2025, which is his current role. He resides in Jackson with his wife, Anya, daughter, Frances Ann, and their dog and cat.

Walton Gresham III serves as president of Gresham Petroleum Co., secretary of Double Quick, secretary of Delta Terminal and director and member of the executive committee of Planters Bank & Trust Company. He is active in his community and profession and is a past president of Delta Council, the Indianola Rotary Club, the Indianola Educational Foundation and the Indianola Chamber of Commerce. He is currently chairman of the Community Foundation of Sunflower County. Gresham is past president of the Mississippi Propane Gas Association and Mississippi Petroleum Marketers & Convenience Store Association. He also served as the Mississippi director to the National Propane Gas Association. A long-time volunteer leader, Gresham’s passion is to promote economic development and a better infrastructure in the Mississippi Delta and the state of Mississippi. A graduate of Indianola High School and the University of Mississippi, Gresham has served on the University of Mississippi Alumni Board of Directors as well as the University of Mississippi Foundation Board. He was a member of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity and has remained active as an alumni volunteer. Gresham is married to the former Laura Ethridge of Oxford, and they have two daughters and five grandchildren. He is a lifelong member of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, serving in all offices over the past 45 years in addition to being a licensed lay reader.