Mani Erfan

President & Owner of IRA Industrial Solutions

Mani Erfan is a chemical engineer, international entrepreneur, and industrial executive with more than 33 years of leadership in the global catalyst industry. Based in Houston, Texas, he has successfully established and grown companies specializing in catalyst manufacturing, purification technologies, and recycling. He founded a catalyst company that expanded into a global enterprise, achieving cumulative product sales of over $700 million before it was sold in 2020. He currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of a catalyst-recycling business with approximately $8 million in annual revenue.

Early Life and Education

Mani was born in Iran in 1966. His father served as a commercial pilot for the national airline, accumulating nearly 38,000 flight hours, one of the highest recorded at the time. In 1983, at the age of 17, he immigrated to the United States, where he adapted quickly to a new language, culture, and educational environment.

Mani began his studies at the University of Florida in 1984, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering. Demonstrating academic dedication, he completed 157 credit hours in under four years and graduated in August 1988 with high honors, earning a GPA of 3.88.

Early Engineering Career

After graduation, he started his professional career as a Process Engineer at a chemical manufacturing plant in Texas. From August 1988 to January 1990, his responsibilities included evaluating plant processes, identifying operational inefficiencies, and recommending technical improvements to meet production goals.

Sales Engineering at Haldor Topsoe

In 1990, he joined a Danish catalyst firm’s Houston office as a Sales Engineer, focusing on ammonia catalyst sales. He was assigned to a 26-state region that initially produced limited revenue. His role combined technical consultation, customer service, and direct sales.

Within three years, he increased annual sales from approximately $1.4 million to $6.2 million to $6.5 million. His success led to a promotion to Sales Manager, making him the youngest to hold that role at the company.

International Expansion at Parkans International

In 1993, he took on the role of International Sales Manager at a Houston-based company specializing in catalyst recycling and metal reclamation. When he began, international revenue stood at roughly $1 million per year.

Under his direction, the company expanded into several international markets, including Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Kuwait, Qatar, and parts of the European Union. Over seven years, global sales increased to around $11 million annually. He was later promoted to General Sales Manager.

Founding and Building Unicat Catalyst Technologies

In 2000, Mani Erfan founded a catalyst company in Alvin, Texas, with an initial investment of approximately $50,000 and no existing revenue. As President and CEO, he managed catalyst development, formulation, innovation, marketing, and international growth.

Over 21 years, the company became a globally recognized brand in the catalyst industry, generating cumulative product sales of more than $700 million and annual revenues of around $40 million. In August 2020, the company was sold for approximately $38 million.

Leadership at IRA Catalyst Consultants and IRA Industrial Solutions

In 1999, he also founded a consulting firm that would evolve into an international industrial solutions company. Based in Houston, the business focuses on catalyst recycling and metal recovery for clients worldwide.

As President and CEO, he has overseen operations in more than 10 countries. By 2021, the company reached annual revenues of $7.5-$8 million, with a strong emphasis on international sales.

Evangelism and Ministry Leadership

Since 1992, he has been deeply involved in evangelism and church planting across Iran and the Middle East. He founded a nonprofit ministry that supports underground churches and operates outreach programs in Turkey, Germany, Australia, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Ghana, and Georgia.

In 2016, he launched an online Bible college, which has since enrolled approximately 4,500 students. He also leads a digital platform that provides support for individuals facing sexual addiction in the Middle East, currently serving around 1,500 clients.

Mani oversees a Farsi-language online ministry platform that delivers training and spiritual content. In 2024 and 2025, this platform produced 152 educational programs. The ministry currently supports more than 20 full-time pastors in the Middle East region.

Philanthropy and Charitable Giving

Over the past 20 years, Mani Erfan has personally donated several million dollars to ministries and charitable organizations. His annual giving ranges from $200,000 to $300,000. He has supported various outreach efforts and churches across Iran, Ghana, Nigeria, Turkey, Armenia, Bhutan, Greece, Australia, and the United States.

Portfolio: https://mani-erfan.com/

Website: https://manierfantx.com/

To know more, click this link below...

Mani Erfan: Leadership Principles for Managing Industrial Operations Across Multiple Countries

Mani Erfan Illustrates How Founder-Led Technical Companies Achieve Successful Exits

Mani Erfan: The Business Case for Sustainable Practices in Heavy Industry