[ The JNOW Story ]
about us
[ we want to bring your stories to life ]
because our life is here
Johnston Now was born in Four Oaks, the brainchild of Randy and Shanna Capps. After decades in the media industry, our family felt that it was time to tell the more positive stories of our community.
We started by launching the Four Oaks Journal in May 2015 and expanded countywide in December 2016 with Johnston Now.
We live here. We shop here. Our son went to school here. We believe in supporting our local community, and we are humbled and grateful to tell the encouraging stories that happen here.
Johnston Now is a publication of Shandy Communications, LLC.
Your JNow Team
Randy Capps
Co-Founder and Publisher
Were it not for a few undone sit ups on a fitness test, our publisher might have ended up at the Air Force Academy. Instead, the Marion, S.C., native graduated from Gardner-Webb University with a degree in Communication Studies and has worked for newspapers and TV stations in North and South Carolina.
A lover of history, his ideal dinner foursome would include Napoleon, Machiavelli, Sun Tzu and George Washington — and maybe a translator. He enjoys playing video games and tennis, watching sports and traveling.
Ever the cynic, his favorite quote comes from Napoleon: “Men are moved by two levers only: fear and self interest.”
He lives in Four Oaks with his wife, Shanna (look right) and two dogs, Gogo and Lyla.
Shanna Capps
Co-Founder and General Manager
Our general manager is the brains behind JNOW, and the glue that holds us all together. The Dillon, S.C., native finished her college career at N.C. State, where she earned a degree in Leadership in the Public Sector.
She’d love to have dinner with Oprah, Dolly Parton and Michelle Obama — who wouldn’t — and when she’s not planning solutions to the world’s problems she enjoys the beach (any beach), traveling (usually to a beach) and playing video games.
Only a well rounded woman would pull a quote from Shane Falco (played by Keanu Reeves in “The Replacements”): “Pain heals. Chicks dig scars. Glory lasts forever.”
Jamie Strickland
editor/special projects manager
Jamie is the newest member of the team, and she brings the spark and creativity that only a native of Laurinburg can offer.
She graduated from Scotland High School and Campbell University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Mass Communications with a Print Media Specialty and a minor in American History.
Jamie’s married to a wonderful husband, has two teenage kids and is the proud owner of a big goofy dog. She’s lived in Johnston County for 20 years.
When she’s not doing all things JNOW, she likes listening to audiobooks and getting lost in a good Netflix series.
Her ideal dinner guests include Stan Lee, Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Walter Cronkite.
One of her favorite quotes is: “A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new.” – Albert Einstein
Wanda Sasser
Marketing manager
Marketing manager might be her official title at JNOW, but her two favorite quotes suggest that she does much, much more for us. Consider “she is clothed in strength and dignity and she laughs without fear of the future” from Proverbs 31:25 and “I’m too busy working on my own grass to notice if yours is greener” and you start to get the picture.
She grew up right here in the Smithfield-Selma area before heading off to Penn State and East Carolina for college. She enjoys repurposing and painting furniture, interior design, horseback riding, playing pool and cooking, which leads nicely into her dream dinner with Jesus and the apostle Paul and her husband. “Crab legs, wine and great conversation,” she said.
Wanda also points out that it’s impossible to hum while holding your nose (you tried it, didn’t you)? If she tried that at home, she’d be doing so in Clayton with her husband, Steve. She also has two daughters, a son, three granddaughters, three grandsons and two adorable puppies.
ETHAN Capps
Creative consultant
As the son of the founders, if JNOW Media had a crown prince, Ethan would be it.
Our youngest team member was born in South Carolina, but grew up in Johnston County. He’s a graduate of South Johnston High School and Wake Tech, where he studied web and graphic design.
To say Ethan likes movies and music would be a massive understatement. He’s an old soul in both mediums, with the cassette tapes and turntable to prove it.
His ideal dinner companions speak to his passions, as he’d love to hang out with Dave Grohl, Christopher Nolan and Bill Burr. Sounds like a fun time.
For a favorite quote, he pulls one from Jim Carrey: “The effect you have on others is the most valuable currency there is.”
Kayla Stott
Advertising Operations
We didn’t have to go very far to find our advertising operations manager. She’s a native of Pine Level and, while kangaroos may not be able to walk backwards, she lives close enough to our Smithfield office with her husband, Michael, her son, Brentley, and three dogs (Bella, Ozzy and Cooper) to try it herself.
When she’s not making our digital marketing run like a Swiss watch, the UNC Wilmington graduate enjoys being at the beach, cooking, photography and refurbishing/painting furniture. Her dream dinner guests would be Walt Disney, Leonardo DiCaprio, Gordon Ramsay and Tyler Perry. She didn’t say if she’d ask Ramsay to cook, but it certainly sounds like a good time.
Her favorite quote is “believe you can and you’re halfway there,” from Theodore Roosevelt.
terri atkinson
office manager Emeritus
She was the office manager, but “office mother” might be more fitting. Aside from being Shanna’s literal one, she takes care of the rest of us, too.
The Dillon, S.C., native owns a degree in Criminal Justice and spends most of her free time fostering elderly and hospice dogs. You can find plenty of both in her Middlesex home, along with her husband (and our delivery guy), David.
No doubt she’d find a fellow dog lover in her ideal dinner group of the Dalai Lama, Helen Keller, Martin Luther King Jr. and Mother Teresa, or perhaps they could help her get over her fear of heights.
We’ve got the Roosevelt presidents covered with favorite quotes, as Terri’s pick is “when you reach the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on,” from FDR.
Mike Bollinger
Editor Emeritus
Our editor emeritus was a man of letters, but once upon a time, he dreamed of being a math teacher. That worked out well for us. The Lawrenceville, Va., native graduated from Brunswick High School before studying at Southside Virginia Community College and Mary Baldwin University.
When he wasn’t slaying grammatical dragons, he liked playing tennis and watching it on TV. He was also a fan of other sports, a Baseball Mogul maven and an avid reader.
Mike passed away suddenly in August of 2023, and we all miss him dearly.
