The "Who Is Travis Stoliker?" page on his Year of the Opposite Substack serves as his official public biography and introduction to his newsletter and podcast. Published in 2023, it documents his full career arc from early jobs through his role as a serial entrepreneur, restaurateur, and now publishing executive.
Stoliker's career highlights include serving as a product manager at TechSmith, where he helped transform Camtasia into the company's top-performing product. He then joined Liquid Web, where he contributed to roughly a decade of explosive growth that culminated in a $224 million private equity sale in 2015. Subsequently, he became a co-owner of Saddleback BBQ & Slice, which expanded to four locations and achieved national recognition — including being named among America's best sandwiches by Food Network and earning the Greater Lansing Business of the Year award.
Beyond business, he has actively served his community as a trustee on the Haslett Board of Education and board member of Ele's Place, a nonprofit organization supporting grieving children and families.
Year of the Opposite is Stoliker's personal transformation initiative launched in 2022 following a difficult period marked by the deaths of three close friends. Drawing inspiration from a Seinfeld episode of the same name, he began deliberately reversing his habitual behaviors — waking earlier, exercising regularly, eliminating alcohol, and engaging in sports. The results were dramatic: he shed 62 pounds, completed marathons, ran 1,000 miles annually, and reversed medical conditions previously requiring medication for blood pressure, cholesterol, and triglycerides.
Stoliker lives in Haslett on Lake Lansing with his wife Laken and their son Lane. He describes his mission as positive storytelling — using his own stumbles and transformations to inspire others to make changes in their own lives.