Mississippi Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney joined The Extra Mile Podcast to provide an overview of his department, discuss tie-ins with MDOT, talk about a recent visit to a Willie Nelson concert and more.Show intro, introducing Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney - 01:41Plans for Thanksgiving - 02:50What the Mississippi Insurance Department handles - 04:10Eudora Welty Library situation - 06:56Regulation of the State Health Plan - 09:56Insurance Department upcoming priorities - 10:58Regarding mortgage rates - 13:21On Mississippi transportation - 16:30State elected official Vietnam veterans - 18:07How the Insurance Department works with MDOT - 21:40Deer safety - 22:47Against littering - 26:21Favorite place(s) to eat - 28:29Favorite music - 30:01Show outro - 32:10

Mississippi Lieutenant Governor Delbert Hosemann joined The Extra Mile podcast to discuss the 5th anniversary of the completion of I-269 and more.Show intro, introducing Lieutenant Governor Delbert Hosemann - 01:23Lt. Governor Hosemann's November plans - 03:03Progress for education in Mississippi - 03:47Reflecting on this year's infrastructure investment - 06:48Upgrades to State Parks - 07:48Mississippi financial improvements - 08:45Regarding litter - 11:10Museum to Market Trail - 13:54Looking ahead to the next legislative session - 16:00Strategic infrastructure investments with MDOT - 21:50Impact of I-269 project - 24:12Lt. Governor Hosemann's hopes for MDOT projects - 24:31Notes on Mississippi's growth and success - 27:35Usual place(s) to eat - 33:10Favorite entertainment in Mississippi - 34:49Show outro - 37:54

Biloxi Mayor Andrew "FoFo" Gilich joined The Extra Mile podcast to talk Cruisin' the Coast, working with MDOT at the local level, his days playing in a rock and roll band and much more.Show intro, introducing Biloxi Mayor Andrew "FoFo" Gilich - 01:22On Mayor Gilich's background - 02:57Why the nickname "FoFo" - 03:54Important visitors from Croatia - 05:25Charm of Biloxi - 07:36On Cruisin' the Coast - 10:39Tourism and lodging in Biloxi - 13:24Local partnership with MDOT - 15:40Regarding the I-110 bridge - 16:35Clean-up related to Katrina  - 17:37Importance of hurricane preparedness - 23:09Project to widen I-10 - 26:09Working with MDOT leadership - 28:10Favorite music - 29:06Favorite concert - 31:24Favorite place(s) to eat - 32:20Events around Biloxi City Hall - 35:03Show outro - 36:28

MDOT State Safety Engineer Mark Thomas joined The Extra Mile podcast to give an overview of the Highway Safety Division, talk about the Buckle Up Phone Down campaign, promote roundabouts and more.Show intro, introducing MDOT State Safety Engineer Mark Thomas - 01:35About the Highway Safety Division - 02:39How the Highway Safety Division gets involved in safety improvement projects - 04:02On pedestrian safety - 05:44Pedestrians on the interstate - 07:09Types of Highway Safety Division projects - 08:25Regarding roundabouts - 10:14Example of an effective MS roundabout - 12:02Safety education activities - 14:15Buckle Up Phone Down campaign - 17:25Favorite place(s) to eat - 24:11Favorite music - 25:43Favorite concert - 26:23Show outro - 27:57

Accelerate MS Executive Director Ryan Miller joined The Extra Mile Podcast to talk about the exciting work his office is doing in the realm of workforce development among other topics.Show intro, introducing Accelerate MS Executive Director Ryan Miller - 01:28What Accelerate MS does - 02:41Ryan Miller's background - 03:39Second annual MS Horizons Workforce Symposium - 07:17Current focus for Accelerate MS - 09:26On Accelerate MS successes so far - 11:21Regarding Workforce Enhancement Training (WET) Funds - 12:11Accelerate MS's future approach structure - 14:28Challenges Accelerate MS faces in accomplishing goals - 19:02Transportation related career growth - 25:04How Accelerate MS relates to economic development - 28:02Top careers with needs and growth - 31:02Favorite current music - 35:58Favorite concert(s) - 37:30Favorite place(s) to eat around Mississippi - 39:53Show outro - 42:02

MDOT State LPA Engineer Lee Frederick joined The Extra Mile Podcast to talk about how his division helps to facilitate countless local, public projects across Mississippi among other topics.Show intro, introducing MDOT State LPA Engineer Lee Frederick - 01:28What LPA means - 02:51How MDOT works with local public agencies - 04:32Types of LPA projects - 06:03LPA division team - 06:47Why you would want to work for MDOT - 09:50Lee Frederick's favorite LPA projects - 14:06Transportation Alternatives (TA) program - 16:05Other upcoming projects - 17:07Litter in Mississippi - 18:34Favorite place(s) to eat around Jackson - 19:05Top restaurants outside of Jackson - 20:13Favorite music - 21:43Favorite concert - 23:14Lee Frederick's Mississippi summer travel spots - 24:03MDOT's free travel resources - 25:18Show outro - 28:04

MEMA Chief Communications Officer Malary White joined The Extra Mile Podcast to talk about the importance of preparedness as we enter peak hurricane season along with other topics.Show intro, introducing MEMA Chief Communications Officer Malary White - 01:32About the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) - 02:28What Malary White does at MEMA - 04:32How MEMA approaches peak hurricane season - 07:30On hurricane preparedness - 10:00MEMA resources, including their app  - 12:40Overview of contraflow - 17:12Lessons learned from past events - 19:06Clarifying common MEMA misconceptions - 22:20Hurricane season predictions - 24:16Favorite place(s) to eat - 27:38Favorite music and concert - 28:26Favorite summer travel spots - 29:52Show outro - 31:47

State Senator Jenifer Branning and State Representative Scott Bounds joined The Extra Mile podcast on location at the Neshoba County Fair to talk Mississippi's Giant House Party, highlight 2023 legislative accomplishments/discuss future priorities and drop favorite summer travel destinations.Show intro, introducing State Representative Scott Bounds - 01:07What's going on at the Neshoba County Fair - 02:06Speech preview - 05:50Prep for the fair - 08:10Reviewing the 2023 legislative session - 09:45Future legislation aims - 10:50Marty Stuart's Congress of Country Music - 13:09Favorite Neshoba County Fair concert - 16:02Introducing State Senator Jenifer Branning - 19:19What Fair events Senator Branning is looking forward to - 20:58Highlights from 2023 legislative session - 22:14Upcoming legislative goals - 24:35Summer fun in Senate District 18 - 25:20Senator Branning's favorite summer travel destinations - 27:15Favorite Neshoba County Fair concert - 28:42Show outro - 30:34

The Extra Mile Podcast made a return trip to Vicksburg to visit with Mayor George Flaggs, Jr. to talk transportation projects in the area, the Dick Hall Welcome Center, city happenings and more.Show intro, introducing Vicksburg Mayor George Flaggs, Jr. - 01:12July 4 in Vicksburg - 03:01Regarding the Miss Mississippi Pageant - 04:14Vicksburg pickleball and goat yoga opportunities - 05:31On the Dick Hall Welcome Center - 07:46Improvements to I-20 Flowers Interchange  - 09:03I-20 frontage road extension and bridge repair - 13:04Port update - 14:11City's litter management - 15:25Favorite place(s) to eat - 19:00Favorite summer trip - 20:57Favorite music - 21:57Show outro - 23:07

Our summer travel theme continued on The Extra Mile Podcast as the team visited with concert promoter Arden Barnett, owner of Ardenland!Show intro, introducing concert promoter and owner of Ardenland Arden Barnett - 00:37About Duling Hall - 01:37How Arden got into music - 03:00Why Duling Hall's location matters for music - 05:05Importance of transportation network for shows - 06:16Cathead Jam - 08:59Upcoming event at MSU Riley Center - 10:08Keath Killebrew Memorial Rodeo  - 11:40Regarding litter - 13:37Favorite place(s) to eat - 15:46Favorite music - 16:50Show outro - 19:35

State Senator Lydia Chassaniol, Chair of the Senate Tourism Committee, joined The Extra Mile Podcast to talk about summer travel destinations in the great State of Mississippi.Show intro, state Senator Lydia Chassaniol - 00:35About the building and location - 01:26Senator Chassaniol's service history - 02:58On the Mississippi culinary travel project - 03:45Promoting town to town marketing - 07:57Recent trip to Ocean Springs - 11:52Regarding a visit to Laurel - 13:55Favorite place to eat  - 16:25Favorite music - 19:21Passion for art  - 22:23Show outro - 23:54

Kevin Coggin, Executive Director of the Coast Transit Authority, joined The Extra Mile Podcast to talk about his organization, the need for public transit, the importance of hurricane preparedness and more.Show intro, introducing Coast Transit Authority Executive Director Kevin Coggin - 00:36On the Gulfport Transit Center building - 01:15What is the Coast Transit Authority - 03:29Van pool operations - 05:54How the Coast Transit Authority relates to MDOT - 06:51Recent funding for multimodal transportation - 08:29Experience during Hurricane Katrina - 09:59Response to hurricanes  - 12:34Lessons learned from Katrina - 13:51Importance of a hurricane plan - 15:20Future challenges for transit - 20:11Autonomous and EV type vehicles for transit - 21:18Favorite place(s) to eat - 22:57Favorite music - 24:56Show outro - 25:33

Colby Kimmel, Assistant Chief Engineer - Pre-construction, and Jessica Dilley, Assistant State Planning Engineer, joined The Extra Mile Podcast to talk women in engineering, why they got in to the field, the benefits of working at MDOT and more.Show intro, introducing MDOT Engineers Colby Kimmel and Jessica Dilley - 00:38Beginnings at MDOT - 03:07Regarding the Women in Transportation Seminar Mississippi group - 04:26WTS Social Media - 10:00Why Colby Kimmel decided to become an engineer - 10:10Contact details for WTS and STEM video resources - 11:36What drew Jessica Dilley to engineering - 14:17Why girls should study engineering - 16:16Importance of diversity in teams at MDOT - 20:20Reasons why MDOT is a great place to work - 23:02Favorite place(s) to eat - 27:22Show outro - 30:22

MDOT Executive Director Brad White joined The Extra Mile Podcast: Legislative Session on location at the Mississippi Capitol to recap a successful 2023 Legislative Session.Show intro, introducing MDOT Executive Director Brad White - 00:31On the State Capitol room setting - 01:162023 legislative session impact for MDOT - 02:18Importance of multimodal investment - 05:55Dick Hall welcome center - 08:02Funding for capacity project highlights - 09:47Current MDOT priorities - 13:38Response to recent storms - 17:04Favorite place(s) to eat - 19:47Favorite music - 20:31Updates on Will's family - 21:41Show outro - 22:41

Assistant Attorney General Roy Tipton joined The Extra Mile Podcast: Legislative Session to tell fun stories and anecdotes from his 31 years of service at MDOT.Show intro, introducing Assistant Attorney General Roy Tipton - 00:30Professional experience prior to MDOT - 01:25Beginnings at MDOT - 03:00Government career versus private practice - 03:44Why working for MDOT is great - 05:12Demonstrative evidence for a cofferdam - 06:46First design contract with MDOT for the Greenville bridge - 09:00Tanglefoot Trail and Long Leaf Trace railroads projects - 12:16Selling a helicopter - 14:02Favorite food place(s) - 15:50What's next for Roy Tipton - 18:06Show outro - 19:14

State Representative Manly Barton joined The Extra Mile Podcast: Legislative Session to talk about how he got into public service, serving in the Vietnam War, chairing the Local and Private Legislation Committee and more.Show intro, introducing State Representative Manly Barton - 00:29How Representative Barton became a public servant - 01:20Where we're at in the 2023 legislative session - 02:52Serving in the Vietnam War - 04:29Overview of the Local and Private Legislation Committee - 08:14On career and technical training in Mississippi - 12:14About the Career Coaches Program - 16:22Four-lane Highway 57 project - 19:30Representative Barton's favorite place(s) to eat - 23:21Show outro - 26:06

State Senator Rita Potts Parks joined The Extra Mile Podcast: Legislative Session to talk transportation legislation, break down a nurse retention bill, explain the origins of the famous Slugburger and more.Show intro, introducing State Senator Rita Potts Parks - 00:30Why Senator Potts Parks decided to run for public office - 01:21Senator Potts Parks' business background - 02:18Comments on the current status of the 2023 legislative session - 03:34Transportation infrastructure legislation progress - 05:05Explanation of Hospital Nurses Retention Loan Repayment Program - 07:52Updates on redesign of HELP Grant and MTAG programs - 9:00Transportation projects in Alcorn and Tippah counties Senator Potts Parks is watching - 10:58Favorite place to eat - 11:59About the Slugburger - 12:22Contact information - 14:18Show outro - 14:40

MDOT Chief of Staff Jeff Ely joined The Extra Mile Podcast: Legislative Session to break down his role at the agency, discuss funding, talk about the benefits of working at MDOT and more.Show intro, introducing MDOT Chief of Staff Jeff Ely - 00:30Jeff Ely's career with MDOT - 01:39Overview of what the MDOT Chief of Staff does - 02:49What life is like working at MDOT - 04:22On the Governor's $1.3 billion proposal - 07:35Updates on the recent legislative funding proposals - 09:50Election campaign sign policies and considerations along roads - 11:21Regarding the legislative hearing on roads and bridges - 14:13Favorite place to eat - 15:41Show outro - 17:04

State Representative Charles Busby joined The Extra Mile: Legislative Session to give an overview of transportation legislation during the 2023 session, discuss the future of transportation, talk about MDOT projects on the Coast and more. Show intro, introducing State Representative Charles Busby - 00:29Update what's happening in the session as of March 1 - 01:23Overview of transportation legislation during the 2023 session - 03:20Conversation and legislation involving electric autonomous vehicles - 07:08Importance of thinking about the future of transportation now - 10:12More on the Emergency Road and Bridge Repair Fund and what's next for the program - 12:37Projects going on in Jackson County and the other Coastal counties - 14:06New Welcome Center on I-10 - 16:06Wrapping up his time as Chairman of the House Transportation Committee - 16:57Favorite new place to eat - 19:10Contact information - 20:36Show outro - 21:16

Mississippi Department of Public Safety Commissioner Sean Tindell joined The Extra Mile Podcast: Legislative Session to provide an overview of DPS, highlight upgrades to the Driver's License Services program, talk about partnering with MDOT and other agencies and more.Show intro, introducing MS Dept. of Public Safety Commissioner Sean Tindell - 00:29Commissioner Tindell's career and how he got into public service - 01:30School Guardian Act legislation - 04:30Overview of what DPS does - 06:57Law enforcement team members at DPS - 10:04Driver's License Services program upgrades - 11:54Changes to firearm permits procedures - 13:11Autonomous vehicles legal considerations - 14:04Partnerships with other agencies - 17:24Activities to combat human trafficking - 18:50Commissioner Tindell's favorite place(s) to eat - 21:12Show outro - 23:09