Meet Katie Mitchell: Owner, Happy Camper

We had the good fortune of connecting with Katie Mitchell and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Katie, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I am often driven by passion and curiosity. I was so passionate about the power of healthy food, and even more curious as to how to make a business out of something you’re passionate about. My process was one of dipping my toe in the water slowly over time. I would try something that seemed scary and new, build on it, get feedback, and see if it was something I liked. I love serving food to people, so a big part of my thought process was being fulfilled every day by getting that great feeling of making someone feel good through food! Over time, my thought process became more about connection. How can I continue and build a business that’s about connecting people in life using food as our connector!

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I have much left to go in my career, but what I have experienced thus far has been a fun ride. I think the running theme in my career has been resiliency and desire to learn. I had a hard time finding something stable when I started my career and struggled to understand where I had strengths. I spent the next few years working in the financial services industry where I learned a lot about what I was capable of, the ways of the business world, and how to deal with uncertainty and ambiguity. I started working on Happy Camper while I was there, baking for my co-workers and testing ideas. When I launched my company, I made some dramatic shifts in order to focus on what was working business-wise and what worked for me personally. It’s been a crazy journey of ups and downs, but I’ve learned that there is no perfect choice in career or business. Every step I’ve taken, I acknowledge that just moving forward is better than overthinking how well something will work out.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
My days always start with coffee, so I would absolutely have to take them to some of my favorite local coffee spots like Chrome Yellow, Taproom, Banjo, Kula, or East Pole. There are so many that I love! We would have to go to Buttermilk Kitchen and Pancake Social for amazing breakfast, and then explore. I love going for bike rides, so I would probably take them to explore the Freedom Trail down through Candler Park and Grant Park. One night I would have to take them to a Braves game, and we would definitely make dinner one night with ingredients from one of our local farmers markets. It would not be fall or summer without a trip out to Jaemor farms and a hike around Tallulah Gorge or Yonah Mountain. Other areas I love to walk and explore are the Ansley neighborhoods, the Collier Beltline area, and the bike trails by Grove Park.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
All of the fellow artisans I have met in the past few years deserve a huge shoutout for the passion they have for their work! Many of them have been an inspiration to me and great friends to help each other grow our businesses. My friend Bess Weyandt from Treehouse Milk has been a cheerleader and major encourager throughout my journey. Shoutout to her for her quiet perseverance, kindness, humility and encouragement!

Website: happycamper-atl.com
Instagram: @happycamperatl
Facebook: facebook.com/happycamperatl

Image Credits
Danielle Adams, Sommer Daniels