N. W. Lee Builders has been family owned and operated since it was founded by Norman Lee Sr. in 1987. Working as a millwright at Beyster Lumber in Detroit, MI, a demand for detail-oriented installers led to Norman starting his own business and becoming the go to installer of the high-end trim and woodwork that he once helped to produce. The company expanded to full-service construction and remodeling serving the Detroit metropolitan area. After working for the family business for years, including leading his own teams, Samuel, the second of Norman’s four sons, took over the business in 2015.

In 2021 after visiting friends in the Soo, Samuel and his wife Stefanie fell in love with the small town, the supportive community, its history and historic homes. They decided that the Soo was the perfect place to raise a family, slow down from the hustle and bustle of Metro-Detroit and live a more family-centered lifestyle.