Permanent Public Record · Haslett, Michigan

Travis
Stoliker

CEO · Scribe Media
Trustee · Haslett Board of Education, Term Expires 2030
Co-founder · Saddleback BBQ (Food Network · Mental Floss Best BBQ in Michigan)
Former VP Marketing · Liquid Web, 2009–2015 ($224M Private Equity Sale)
Inventor · Gyroaster · Creator · Year of the Opposite
Kiwanis Citizen of the Year · 2023 · Holt Outstanding Alumni · 2024

"Travis is a technology bloodhound. He sniffs out the next best thing and knows how to take advantage of it in products and services. If you're looking for a status quo guy, Travis is NOT your man. If you need someone to see a profitable future from a myriad of opportunities, rally the troops and make it happen? Yep, he's that good."

— Troy Stein, LinkedIn Recommendation
$224M
Liquid Web private equity exit · 2015
12×
Inc. 5000 Fastest-Growing U.S. Company · consecutive years
480+
Employees at Liquid Web peak · 3 data centers in Lansing
Michigan 50 Companies to Watch · LiquidWeb 2005 · Saddleback 2023
62 lbs
Lost · cured depression · reversed blood pressure + cholesterol · Year of the Opposite
1,000
Miles run in a single year · Year of the Opposite
Travis Stoliker — Haslett, Michigan
Travis Stoliker · Haslett, Michigan

About Travis Stoliker

Travis Stoliker is a Michigan entrepreneur, community leader, and public servant based in Haslett, Michigan, where he lives on Lake Lansing with his wife Laken and son Lane. He is currently CEO of Scribe Media and serves as a Trustee on the Haslett Board of Education (term expires 2030).

Travis's career in technology began at TechSmith, where he helped grow Camtasia from the lowest-selling product to the company's top product. From 2009 to 2015, he served as VP of Marketing at Liquid Web, joining when the company had roughly 10 employees and helping grow it to 480+ employees, three data centers in Lansing, a data center in Amsterdam, and ~$80 million in annual recurring revenue before its landmark $224 million private equity sale in 2015. During that run, Liquid Web was named an Inc. 5000 Fastest-Growing U.S. Company 12 consecutive years — a rare distinction in American business.

In 2015, Travis co-invested in and helped build Saddleback BBQ with founder Matt Gillett. The restaurant earned Food Network recognition as one of the Best Sandwiches in America, was named Best BBQ in Michigan by Mental Floss Magazine, won the Greater Lansing Business of the Year award (2023), SBDC Small Business of the Year (2018), Michigan 50 Companies to Watch (2023), and the Hospitality Hero Award (2023). Saddleback expanded to four profitable locations with presences at Spartan Stadium and Breslin Center, developed a line of BBQ sauces and rubs in major retailers, paid off student lunch debt across nine school districts, and pioneered pay transparency among Lansing-area businesses.

Travis is also the creator of the Year of the Opposite — a personal transformation challenge that led him to lose 62 pounds, run 1,000 miles in a single year, complete a full marathon, cure his depression, and reverse his high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and elevated triglycerides. He now shares this methodology through his Substack newsletter and podcast.

His community service includes serving on the boards of Ele's Place (capital region grief center for children), East Lansing Info, Capital Community Angel Investors, East Lansing Zoning Board of Appeals, and GridPane. He received a personal letter of commendation from Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin and has corresponded publicly with Governor Jennifer Granholm on energy policy. In 2023, the Kiwanis Club of Haslett named him Citizen of the Year — recognizing community service he "had no idea" he was even being considered for. In 2024, Holt Public Schools named him an Outstanding Alumni.

Travis invented the Gyroaster, a roasting device, and has been a Facebook panelist on digital business strategy. He began his career at WILX TV in Lansing, where he was elected UAW Union Steward — one of the youngest in the department's history.

Book Publishing Entrepreneurship SaaS / Cloud Private Equity Restaurant / Hospitality Education Policy Community Leadership Health & Transformation Marketing Venture / Angel Investing Michigan
Travis Stoliker with Governor Jennifer Granholm
Governor Jennifer Granholm
44th Governor of Michigan · Liquid Web Era · c. 2009
Travis Stoliker with Coach Tom Izzo at MSU Breslin Center
Coach Tom Izzo
MSU Men's Basketball · Draymond Green Hall of Fame Induction · September 2022
Travis Stoliker with Draymond Green
Draymond Green
NBA Champion · MSU Basketball Hall of Fame Induction · September 2022
Travis Stoliker with David Perell at Saddleback BBQ
David Perell
Writer & Creator of Write of Passage · At Saddleback BBQ · 2020
Travis Stoliker receiving Pure Michigan Certificate of Pure Achievement at Governor's Conference on Tourism
Pure Michigan — Governor's Conference on Tourism
Certificate of Pure Achievement · Michigan Economic Development Corp · April 2023
Travis Stoliker accepting Greater Lansing Business of the Year award
Greater Lansing Business of the Year — Acceptance
Saddleback BBQ & Slice by Saddleback · 517 Magazine Entrepreneurial Awards · 2023
Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin letter to Travis Stoliker
Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin
U.S. Representative · Personal letter of commendation · April 2021
Travis Stoliker with Scribe Media team
Scribe Media Team
CEO, Scribe Media · 2024
517 Magazine WINNER graphic — Greater Lansing Business of the Year 2023 — Saddleback BBQ & Slice by Saddleback
517 Magazine — Business of the Year
Official 2023 Greater Lansing Entrepreneurial Awards winner graphic · 517 Magazine
Travis Stoliker giving acceptance speech at podium — Greater Lansing Business of the Year 2023
BOTY 2023 — Acceptance Speech
Travis Stoliker speaking at the podium · Greater Lansing Entrepreneurial Awards · 2023
Travis Stoliker accepting Business of the Year award on stage at Breslin Center
BOTY 2023 — Stage Presentation
Receiving Greater Lansing Business of the Year trophy · MSU Breslin Center · 2023
Travis Stoliker and Matthew Gillett at Pure Michigan Governor's Conference on Tourism receiving Certificate of Pure Achievement
Pure Michigan — Governor's Conference
Certificate of Pure Achievement · Saddleback BBQ · Governor's Conference on Tourism · 2023
Travis Stoliker and David Perell outside Saddleback BBQ — the photo Perell included in his Monday Musings newsletter
David Perell at Saddleback BBQ
The photo Perell included in his Monday Musings newsletter · September 2020
Travis Stoliker walking the red carpet with BOTY award at MSU Breslin Center
BOTY 2023 — Red Carpet Walk
Walking the arena floor with award · MSU Breslin Center · 2023
Travis Stoliker at MSU Breslin Center with Magic Johnson jersey #33 visible
BOTY 2023 — MSU Breslin Center
Lansing Entrepreneurial Awards · Venue: MSU Breslin Center (Magic Johnson #33) · 2023
Boards & Leadership June 2024 & June 2025

Handed out diplomas at Haslett High School graduation (2024, 2025)

Business 2024–present

CEO, Scribe Media

→ External Source
Political November 5, 2024

Ran for Haslett Public Schools Board of Education (2024)

→ External Source
Philanthropy May 07, 2024

Funded Holt Schools Drama Field Trip (2024)

Photo
Philanthropy May 05, 2024

$3,000 Outstanding Educator Award at Haslett Public Schools (2024)

Awards May 02, 2024

Holt Public Schools Outstanding Alumni Award (2024)

Speaking May 02, 2024

Acceptance speech, Holt Outstanding Alumni Award (2024)

Notable People April 20, 2024

First Izzo Run (2024)

Photo
Political March 29, 2024

Advocacy: Palisades nuclear restart (2024)

Business March 15, 2024

VP of Marketing, Scribe Media (2024)

Awards November 07, 2023

Kiwanis Club Citizen of the Year (2023)

Boards & Leadership September 26, 2023

Trustee, Haslett Board of Education (2023)

Philanthropy July 19, 2023

Ele's Place 5K — Fundraising Run (2023)

Photo
Events May 04, 2023

Edward Lowe Foundation Retreat (2023)

Photo
Awards May 01, 2023

Michigan 50 Companies to Watch — Saddleback BBQ (2023)

Photo
Events May 01, 2023

Michigan Celebrates Small Business VIP Reception (2023)

Photo
Boards & Leadership April 17, 2023

Board, Ele's Place — Capital Region (2023)

Awards 2023

Greater Lansing Business of the Year — Saddleback BBQ

→ External Source
Awards March 17, 2023

Michigan 50 Companies to Watch — LiquidWeb (2005) & Saddleback BBQ (2023)

Business March 14, 2023

Launch of Year Of The Opposite (2023)

Photo
Awards March 03, 2023

Hospitality Hero Award — Saddleback BBQ (2023)

Photo
Speaking September 20, 2022

MSU Venture Summit TED-style talk (2022)

Notable People September 09, 2022

Draymond Green Hall of Fame (2022)

Photo
Notable People September 09, 2022

Draymond Green Hall of Fame Induction (2022)

Photo
Business August 14, 2022

Saddleback BBQ 4th Restaurant Opening (2022)

Photo
Boards & Leadership July 02, 2021

Board of Directors, GridPane (2021)

Political April 17, 2021

Letter from Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin (2021)

Photo
Notable People March 29, 2021

Izzo Class Post (2021)

Political January 22, 2021

Advocacy: Saddleback letter to Governor Whitmer covered by LSJ (2021)

Political January 19, 2021

Bridge Magazine published our COVID advocacy letter (2021)

Political December 16, 2020

Public letter to Governor Granholm on Nuclear Energy (2020)

Photo
Awards 2020

Food Network — Rib Sandwich named one of the Best Sandwiches in America

→ External Source
Awards 2007–2019

Inc. 5000 Fastest-Growing U.S. Company — 12 consecutive years (LiquidWeb, 2007–2019)

→ External Source
Awards May 03, 2019

Small Business of the Year — Saddleback BBQ (2018)

Awards 2019

Mental Floss Magazine — Best BBQ in Michigan (Saddleback BBQ)

→ External Source
Awards 2018

SBDC Small Business of the Year — Saddleback BBQ

→ External Source
Speaking April 10, 2018

Facebook Boost Your Business Panelist (2018)

Boards & Leadership September 01, 2017

Investor & Advisor, Prndl (2017)

Photo
Speaking July 09, 2017

Facebook Boost Your Business Panelist (2017)

Media April 17, 2017

Featured in Crain's Detroit — MSU Startup Incubator (2017)

Boards & Leadership March 31, 2017

Board, Capital Community Angel Investors (2017)

Events November 16, 2016

Making It in Michigan — Entrepreneur of the Year (2016)

Photo
Boards & Leadership May 03, 2016

Board of Directors, East Lansing Info (2016)

Media April 13, 2016

Fox47 / City Pulse Top of the Town — Best BBQ & New Restaurant (2016)

Business June 09, 2015

Founding Saddleback BBQ (2015)

Events June 09, 2015

Saddleback BBQ Grand Opening (2015)

Business May 27, 2015

Sale of LiquidWeb (2015)

Business May 27, 2015

Sale of LiquidWeb — $224 million (2015)

→ External Source
Business 2006–2015

Grew LiquidWeb: ~10 employees → 480+ · ~$80M ARR

→ External Source
Media April 22, 2015

Saddleback BBQ featured in City Pulse (2015)

Events March 24, 2014

Wharton Center Lecture with Jason Meyers (2014)

Business April 25, 2012

LiquidWeb #4 Taxpayer in Delta Township — ahead of GM (2012)

Photo
Awards June 04, 2010

BWL Chili Cook Off — Gold Ladle + Silver Corporate (LiquidWeb, 2010)

Awards January 04, 2010

Best Corporate Website — 2009 Lansing Web Awards (LiquidWeb)

Political November 15, 2009

Governor Granholm mentioned LiquidWeb (2009)

Events November 13, 2009

LiquidWeb Cloud Computing Data Center Grand Opening (2009)

Media March 17, 2009

Interviewed by WILX on Facebook hiring (2009)

Media March 10, 2009

Interviewed by WLNS CBS on Michigan hiring (2009)

Events June 30, 2008

LiquidWeb Data Center 3 Groundbreaking (2008)

Business pre-2006

Product Manager, Camtasia at TechSmith (pre-LiquidWeb)

→ External Source
Press Apr 2020

Business Owners Adapt During COVID-19 Stay-Home Order

WLNS 6 News
Press Jan 2021

Saddleback BBQ Pays It Forward, Helps Coach's Bar & Grill Survive Pandemic

WLNS 6 News
Press Aug 2021

Saddleback BBQ Gets Hateful Comments for Helping Teacher & Afghan Refugees

WLNS 6 News
Press · National Aug 2021

NBC4 National Pickup: Saddleback BBQ Hateful Comments Story Goes National

NBC4 WCMH-TV (National Wire)
Press 2021

Lansing Restaurant Owners Hopeful of In-Person Comeback

WLNS 6 News
Press Jul 2022

Slice by Saddleback's Grand Opening Debut Dampened by Road Construction

WLNS 6 News
Press Apr 2023

$12,500 Pizza Oven Stolen from Slice by Saddleback — Then Recovered

WLNS 6 News
Personal Writing Mar 2024

Personal Update: Joining Scribe Media as VP of Marketing

Year of the Opposite (Blog)
Business Dec 2024

Scribe Media 2024 Annual Letter — Travis Named as Key Hire by CEO

Scribe Media
Business · MSU Feb 2017

MSU Conquer Accelerator Taps Travis Stoliker as Entrepreneur-in-Residence

Michigan VCA / MVCA
Press · Op-Ed Apr 2015

Op-Ed: Patent System Needs Updating (as CMO of Liquid Web)

Lansing State Journal
Press Sep 2017

Saddleback BBQ Opens Second Location in Okemos

WILX News 10
Philanthropy Feb 2021

Saddleback BBQ Pays Off Entire School District's Lunch Debt

WILX News 10
Philanthropy Mar 2021

Saddleback BBQ Owners Paid Off Mason Schools' Lunch Debt ($6,300+)

Lansing State Journal
Press Aug 2021

Restaurant Raising Funds to Help Lansing Eateries Being Targeted

Lansing State Journal
Press · Community Sep 2022

Travis Stoliker Uses Facebook Reach to Amplify Crunchy's Employee Story (150k views)

Lansing State Journal
Business · Angel Investing Jul 2024

Travis & Lane Stoliker: Co-Owners of Gyroaster, The World's Best Marshmallow Roaster (LSJ)

Lansing State Journal
Press · Podcasting Oct 2025

Haslett Businessman Travis Stoliker Featured in Local Podcasting Boom

Lansing State Journal
Press · MSU Feb 2017

MSUToday: Conquer Accelerator Welcomes Travis Stoliker as New Mentor

MSUToday (Michigan State University)
Press · Business Media Feb 2017

Crain's Detroit Business: Travis Stoliker Joins MSU Conquer Accelerator

Crain's Detroit Business
Media · Podcast Jul 2023

Cold Oatmeal Podcast — Episode 110: Interview with Travis Stoliker

Cold Oatmeal Podcast (Resch Strategies)
Business · Entrepreneurship Jun 2024

Travis & Lane Stoliker: Co-Owners of Gyroaster — The World's Best Marshmallow Roaster

Gyroaster.com + Lansing State Journal
Press · Feature

Travis Stoliker: Rocking Chair Reflections

December 12, 2024 · Edward Lowe Foundation

A profile of Travis's 2022 Entrepreneur-in-Residence retreat at the Edward Lowe Foundation's Big Rock Valley campus, where three days of solitude and rocking chair reflection led to the birth of the Year of the Opposite.

Community · Education

Appointed Trustee: Haslett Board of Education

October 2023 · Year of the Opposite

Travis announces his appointment as Trustee of the Haslett Board of Education, filling a vacancy left by Monica Del Castillo's resignation. He highlights his community credentials and vision for the district.

Business · Entrepreneurship

Travis Stoliker Sells Saddleback BBQ Shares to Matt Gillett

December 29, 2023 · Year of the Opposite

Travis announces the sale of all his shares in Saddleback BBQ and Slice by Saddleback to co-owner Matt Gillett, effective December 27, 2023. Gillett calls Travis "instrumental to the company's success and brand development in the Lansing area."

Community · Education

My Plan for a $3,000 Gift to Public School Staff

2024 · Year of the Opposite

As a Haslett school board trustee, Travis's personal initiative to donate $3,000 to an outstanding staff member sparks community controversy — offering a candid look at the challenges of civic service.

Biography

Who Is Travis Stoliker? What is The Year Of The Opposite?

2023 · Year of the Opposite

Travis's official public biography: from TechSmith product manager to Liquid Web CMSO to Saddleback co-owner to Scribe Media CEO — plus the origin story of the Year of the Opposite personal transformation that shed 62 lbs and reversed multiple health conditions.

Press · National Media

Business Insider: Lost 43 Pounds, Eased Depression After 'Year of the Opposite'

October 20, 2023 · Business Insider · Rachel Hosie

Major national press coverage in Business Insider's Health section. Rachel Hosie profiles how Travis lost 43 pounds, reversed depression, and eliminated medications by doing the opposite of his normal habits for one year.

Press · International Media

UNILAD: Man Completely Turned His Life Around by Doing 'Year of the Opposite'

October 20, 2023 · UNILAD · Kit Roberts

International digital media coverage of Travis's Year of the Opposite transformation — published the same day as Business Insider, driving global readership to his story of losing 43 pounds and reversing depression after the deaths of three close friends.

Viral · Social Media

#1 on Reddit's Seinfeld Subreddit: 1,141 Upvotes for Travis's 'Year of the Opposite'

October 20, 2023 · Reddit — r/seinfeld · 425,000+ members

The Business Insider article about Travis's Year of the Opposite transformation topped r/seinfeld — the Seinfeld TV show community — with 1,141 upvotes and 96 comments, as fans celebrated a real-life "Opposite George" story.

Community Leadership · Official Recognition

Governor Gretchen Whitmer Personally Thanks Saddleback BBQ for COVID Community Service

July 19, 2021 · Office of the Governor, State of Michigan

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer sent a personal letter to Saddleback BBQ praising Travis Stoliker's restaurant for its COVID-19 community service: "I could not be prouder of the resilience, innovation, and compassion that your business has shown."

Community Leadership · Official Recognition

Travis Stoliker Named 2023 Citizen of the Year by Kiwanis International

2023 · Kiwanis International — Haslett & Okemos Chapter

The Kiwanis International chapter serving Haslett and Okemos, Michigan named Travis Stoliker its 2023 Citizen of the Year, presenting him with an engraved crystal trophy recognizing his community leadership through Saddleback BBQ and civic service.

Community Leadership · Tourism · Official Recognition

Saddleback BBQ Receives Pure Michigan Certificate of Pure Achievement at Governor's Conference on Tourism

April 12, 2023 · Pure Michigan / Michigan Economic Development Corporation

Saddleback BBQ, co-founded by Travis Stoliker, was presented with a Pure Michigan Certificate of Pure Achievement at the Michigan Governor's Conference on Tourism — the state's premier annual gathering of hospitality and tourism industry leaders.

Press · Newsletter

David Perell Calls Saddleback BBQ His All-Time Favorite BBQ Restaurant in Monday Musings Newsletter

September 29, 2020 · David Perell — Monday Musings

"To date, my favorite BBQ restaurant is still Saddleback BBQ in Lansing, Michigan." Influential writer David Perell endorsed Saddleback BBQ in his widely-read newsletter — and returned four days later because the food was so good.

Technology · Michigan Business · Liquid Web Era

Liquid Web Data Center 3 Grand Opening (2008)

2008 · Liquid Web · Lansing, Michigan

Video record of Liquid Web's Data Center 3 grand opening in 2008 — the year before Travis Stoliker joined the company as Chief Marketing & Sales Officer, a role he held from 2009 to 2015 through the company's growth to a $224M private equity exit.

Public Service · Education · Official Record

Travis Stoliker Takes Oath of Office as Haslett Board of Education Trustee

October 10, 2023 · Haslett Public Schools Board of Education

Travis Stoliker was sworn in as a Haslett Board of Education trustee on October 10, 2023, beginning his term of service through 2030 representing the Haslett and Meridian Township school community.