Steve Soo In Lee lives his life as a hotel broker, grocery store owner, devout churchgoer and family man all without nearly enough time to sleep. But the new vice president of Brown Hotel Group said that he’s willing to sacrifice some shut-eye to see his clients and customers satisfied.

“I love to serve my clients and I enjoy seeing them smile,” he said. “That’s the secret to my success.”

Lee studied in the United States in the 1960s, and upon graduating returned home to Korea to work in the foreign operations department at Korea Exchange Bank. In 1976, Lee moved to Los Angeles.

“I came back as an immigrant 10 years later because it was another opportunity,” he said. “Another challenge, another new life.”

Lee earned his real estate license two years after arriving in L.A. and was a top salesman at Olympic Realty and Investment Co. But after 12 years there, Lee opened a grocery store in Long Beach with his wife Julie. Now, after 16 years in the grocery business, Lee is back in real estate.

Lee works as a broker for hotel and motel owners. “I just try to be humble,” Lee said. “They call me a peacemaker; I just cooperate to be nice and kind. There’s a saying that an old man is wise because he’s generous and understands everybody’s situation.”

Lee plans to sell his market to fully concentrate on his new position. Lee spends what free time he has with the Young Nak Presbyterian Church of Los Angeles. “I grew up in a Christian family, so I depend 100 percent upon God’s hand,” Lee said.

Lee also loves music, and with a nephew in the Los Angeles Philharmonic, he attends concerts as often as possible. Lee lives in Cerritos. His eldest son David is a CPA and his younger son Michael is a cardiologist.