When Katie Stocking sees a need in her world, she doesn’t hesitate to fill it.

That’s how she became a business owner at 28 years old. The founder of Happy Medium LLC and a regular blogger for the Business Record’s IowaBiz.com will tell you sometimes the only way to change a situation is to do it yourself.

“I honestly never thought about owning a business until about three weeks before I was a business owner,” Stocking said. “I think I had to work in a lot of different situations before I realized that.” 

Stocking, a native of Algona, said she chose to make Des Moines her home after college, rather than Chicago, where her friends went. 

She worked at The Cheesecake Factory, where she made a connection that eventually landed her a job at Two Rivers Marketing. 

In addition to being a business owner, Stocking is passionate about many things, including animal rights. She also loves to travel. She spent a summer in Japan when she was in college, and she and members of the Happy Medium team just attended a conference in Dublin, Ireland.

“I love that travel can mesh with both my work and personal lives,” she said.

Stocking also loves to learn. As long as she’s involved in causes and projects that teach her something new, she’s happy.

“I feel very strongly that when I am involved, I am involved. It’s not just about putting things on my resume – I’m not interested in that because I’m a doer,” she said. “My biggest requirement is what can I bring to the table for them?”

She’s also into being a wife and mom, though she admits her work family is very important to her. 

“Through my experiences, I’ve reached a point where I feel comfortable being me,” Stocking said. 

“I’ve been true to who I am, and I go to sleep at night feeling very comfortable with what I’ve done.”

Reasons she’s a forty:

• She started her own interactive advertising agency, Happy Medium LLC, when she was 28 years old.
• She serves on the boards of directors for Bravo Greater Des Moines, Des Moines Performing Arts, Impact Missions and Winefest Des Moines.
• She volunteers at Beacon of Life, Youth Emergency Shelter & Services and WesleyLife Meals on Wheels.
• She is a member of Lead Like a Lady.