The alarm rings at 4 A.M. The streets of Lake Wilborn are quiet and still at this time of

morning, but coffee is freshly brewing inside of the Lee household. For this family, each

day’s calendar is packed full: from early in the morning through late in the evening.

Between raising their daughter, Charlotte, chasing around their Aussiedoodle, and

running two local businesses, Steven and Katie Lee choose to live with the gates wide

open. This mindset has shaped their story from the very beginning.

Steven and Katie’s story begins on separate sides of the world: Katie grew up in the

small town of Oneonta, Alabama while Steven spent the first few years of his life in

South Korea before his family immigrated to St. Louis, Missouri. Although their paths

started thousands of miles apart, an “invisible string” eventually led both to Birmingham.

Steven grew up playing hockey in St. Louis and even pursued it professionally after high

school. He earned his degree in Exercise Science from Missouri State University, where

he also played for the university’s hockey team. Katie attended the University of North

Alabama, earning a double major in Entertainment Industry Business and Professional

Hospitality Management, which led to her career in the radio industry.

Katie moved to Birmingham in 2015 to work in Marketing for iHeartMedia. From voicing

commercials to building relationships with incredible local organizations to even working

with national brands on their marketing campaigns, Katie was passionate about helping

others’ businesses grow and had a secret desire to own her own business one day.

After working as a personal trainer in Atlanta, Steven relocated to Birmingham in 2018

for a new opportunity to further pursue his career in the fitness industry. The same day

he moved to Birmingham, he received an invitation to a marketing seminar where Katie

was presenting advertising.

What started as a marketing pitch stemmed into something more. Since Steven was

new to Birmingham, Katie quickly invited him to a Birmingham Bulls game.

Coincidentally, Katie had recently become a fan of hockey thanks to her work with the

Birmingham Bulls, one of her favorite clients.

Their connection at that hockey game was immediate. Neither were looking for a

relationship; both were focused on their careers. But as the saying goes, “When you

know, you know.” They were engaged within eight months and married on February 17,

2020, exactly one month before the world shut down during the pandemic.

“Yes, we spent our first year of marriage in quarantine,” Katie says with a laugh. Living

in the Creekside community in Brock’s Gap, Steven and Katie’s honeymoon phase

quickly took a turn as the world shutdown. During this time, the Lees felt a deep

conviction for a realignment of their purpose. Months before, they had discovered Clean

Eatz in Charlotte, NC while Steven was competing in a fitness competition. Clean Eatz

continued to stay on their hearts: they needed this food for themselves, their family

members, and for their community. They decided to take a leap of faith, beginning their

journey of entrepreneurship.

Clean Eatz has become a weekly staple in the lives of many Brocks Gap neighbors, and

they will celebrate their 5 year anniversary next month. From their full-service café and

weekly meal plans to their fully stocked Grab ‘N Go freezers, there is an option for

anyone to enjoy “eating clean.” The Lees are passionate about teaching others to view

food as fuel and continue to make clean meals convenient and affordable for the

Hoover community.

After working full-time inside their café, Katie and Steven felt something was missing.

They loved helping others pursue healthier lifestyles, but they were also searching for

deeper connection and community. “When Steven discovered this new fitness brand,

we were both drawn to the meaning behind it,” Katie says.

ISI stands for Iron Sharpens Iron, coming from Proverbs 27:17: “As iron sharpens iron,

so one person sharpens another.” The message resonated deeply with the Lees as it

reflected their core values as a couple and as business partners.

“Through a lot of prayer, we made the decision to open ISI Elite Training,” Steven says.

Soon after making this decision, they learned about the new development in Knox

Square. It was obvious this was the exact spot God had planned throughout their

journey.

ISI Hoover is much more than a gym. It is a place where neighbors encourage one

another, celebrate milestones together, and build relationships that sharpen each other

far beyond a workout.

Today, they are raising their family in Lake Wilborn, where they have lived for three

years. This season of life is especially sweet as they watch Charlotte grow.

Charlotte, who they call Charlee, turns two this month and brings endless energy and

joy to the Lee household. She loves singing and dancing and has an obvious love of

animals.

Of course, no introduction to the Lee family would be complete without Culver. The four-

year-old Aussiedoodle is the loudest member of the family and one of Charlee’s favorite

companions.

Like many families in Lake Wilborn, some of the Lees’ favorite moments in the

community are golf cart rides at sunset, summer days at the pool, and celebrating the 4 th

of July with their neighbors.

They are passionate about supporting local businesses, including date nights at Tre

Luna, grabbing a treat at Whole Scoop Ice Cream, shopping at Dear Prudence, and

enjoying fresh air as a family at Brocks Gap Brewing. The growth of the area and strong

support of local businesses makes this community incredibly special to the Lees,

making them proud to call Brocks Gap home, not only for both their businesses but also

their family.