Pursue Your Strength: Steve Kleva

For Steve Kleva, strength has always been more than just a number on a barbell. It’s about resilience, self-discovery, and the ability to adapt when life forces you to shift gears.  

A former competitive bodybuilder and powerlifter, Steve carved out an identity as a lifter—setting records, pushing limits, and thriving on the mental and physical challenges of the sport.  

But when injuries caught up to him, sidelining his competitive career, Steve had to confront one of the hardest questions of his life: Who am I without lifting? 

From Strength to Setback 

Steve’s journey began after graduating high school, when he left for trade school in Wyoming. There, he turned to the gym for something to do. What started as a pastime quickly became a passion. Competing in bodybuilding and later powerlifting, Steve excelled, setting state records and even earning a USPA American squat record. But the sport’s physical demands took their toll, culminating in a torn disc. 

“It was hard to let go,” Steve admits. “I’d never really faced an injury like that before, but chronic pain made it impossible to progress. I felt like I was holding on too tightly to being ‘the lifter.’ Letting go forced me to look inward and reassess who I was.” 

This period of reflection wasn’t easy. For someone who thrived on the grind—both in the gym and on the platform—stepping back felt like losing a part of himself. But it also opened the door to something new. 

Redefining Strength Through Design 

Unable to push his limits under the bar, Steve channeled his relentless drive into solving problems in the gym equipment space. Drawing on his background in automotive fabrication, he began tinkering in his garage, using his downtime to design his first product: the Genesis™ jack, a lightweight deadlift jack. 

“In the automotive world, it’s all about efficiency—making things lighter, stronger, and more functional,” Steve explains. “I applied that same mindset to fitness equipment. There was so much room for improvement.” 

The Genesis™ jack was just the beginning. Over time, Steve launched a company, Kleva Built, and expanded his product line with other innovative designs, all while maintaining his core philosophy: Solve problems and create smarter, more efficient equipment. 

Strength Beneath the Surface 

For Steve, the gym was never just about the physical transformation.  

“Lifting taught me patience and resilience,” he says. “It’s about pushing yourself beyond what you think you’re capable of—mentally and physically. That same mindset helped me transition from competing to designing. It’s not about overnight success; it’s about embracing the process.” 

This shift in perspective extended beyond the gym. With the support of his wife and business partner, Ciara, Steve found a balance between pursuing his passions and embracing new challenges—like starting a family. 

“Ciara’s been my rock,” Steve says. “She encouraged me to take the leap with Kleva Built and focus on what I love. ... I’m learning that strength comes in so many forms.” 

Pursue Your Strength 

Through his partnership with REP, Steve has found a way to focus entirely on what he does best: innovate.  

“This partnership lets me pour all my energy into design,” he says. “I’m excited to see where we can take things next.” 

Steve’s story is a testament to the power of adaptability and the true meaning of strength. It’s not just about lifting the heaviest weight or conquering the hardest workout. It’s about evolving, finding purpose in new challenges, and pursuing growth in every facet of life. 

For lifters, builders, and dreamers, Steve’s journey serves as a reminder: Just as gym equipment can be redesigned and improved, so can we. Strength isn’t just what you see on the surface—it’s the relentless drive to refine, adapt, and keep moving forward, becoming stronger versions of ourselves with every challenge we face.