On November 15, 2009, Travis Stoliker noted on social media that Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm had mentioned Liquid Web by name during a conference call. The reference was brief — Granholm "name-dropped" the company in the course of the call — but it represented a meaningful moment of visibility for a Lansing tech company at a time when Michigan was struggling through severe economic hardship driven by the collapse of the auto industry.
Liquid Web was one of the rare bright spots in Michigan's technology sector in 2009. The company was hiring, growing, and gaining national recognition for its managed hosting services — a contrast to the widespread layoffs happening across the state. Governor Granholm actively championed job-creating Michigan businesses, and Liquid Web's consistent growth made it a company she could point to as evidence that the state's tech economy had real strength.
Travis captured the moment with characteristic brevity: "Nice - Governor Granholm (@govgranholm) name dropped Liquid Web in a conference call Thursday :)". The acknowledgment from the state's highest office reflected how far Liquid Web had come — from a small Lansing server company to a business notable enough to reach the governor's lips.
