Mani Erfan
President & Owner of IRA Industrial Solutions
Mani Erfan is a chemical engineer, global entrepreneur, and industrial executive with more than 33 years of leadership in the catalyst industry. Operating from Houston, Texas, he has founded and led businesses in catalyst manufacturing, purification technology, and recycling. He launched a catalyst company that grew into a global enterprise, generating cumulative product sales of over $700 million before its 2020 acquisition. He currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of a catalyst-recycling company with approximately $8 million in annual revenue.
Early Life and Education
Mani was born in Iran in 1966. His father was a commercial pilot for the national airline and completed nearly 38,000 flight hours, one of the highest totals worldwide at the time. In 1983, at the age of 17, he immigrated to the United States. This move required quick adaptation to a new culture, language, and education system.
In 1984, he began his studies at the University of Florida, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering. He completed 157 credit hours in fewer than four years and graduated in August 1988 with high honors and a cumulative GPA of 3.88.
Early Engineering Career
After graduation, he started his career as a Process Engineer at a chemical company in Texas. From August 1988 to January 1990, he evaluated plant processes, identified inefficiencies, and proposed operational solutions to meet production goals.
Sales Engineering at Haldor Topsoe
In 1990, Mani joined a Danish catalyst company’s Houston office as a Sales Engineer, handling ammonia catalyst sales across a 26-state region. At the start of his role, sales volume in the area was relatively low. His responsibilities included customer interaction, technical consulting, and commercial sales execution.
Over three years, he increased annual sales from about $1.4 million to between $6.2 and $6.5 million. His performance earned him a promotion to Sales Manager, making him the youngest individual to hold that title at the time.
International Expansion at Parkans International
In 1993, he became International Sales Manager at a Houston-based firm specializing in catalyst recycling and metal recovery. At the time, international revenue stood at approximately $1 million annually.
Under his leadership, the company expanded into international markets, including Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Kuwait, Qatar, and countries within the European Union. Over the next seven years, international revenue grew 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 around $50,000 in startup capital and no initial revenue. As CEO and President, he led efforts in catalyst formulation, product innovation, technical strategy, marketing, and global operations.
Over 21 years, the company evolved into a globally recognized brand in the catalyst industry. It achieved over $700 million in product sales, with peak annual revenue reaching approximately $40 million. In August 2020, the company was sold for roughly $38 million.
Leadership at IRA Catalyst Consultants and IRA Industrial Solutions
In 1999, he established a consulting firm that later transitioned into an industrial solutions company focused on catalyst recycling and metal reclamation. Headquartered in Houston, the company has provided services to clients in over 10 countries.
As President and CEO, he has overseen international operations and business development. By 2021, the company’s revenue ranged from $7.5 to $8 million, with global business contributing significantly to overall performance.
Evangelism and Ministry Leadership
Since 1992, Mani has been engaged in evangelism and church planting efforts in Iran and throughout the Middle East. He founded a nonprofit ministry organization that supports underground churches and maintains outreach in countries including Turkey, Germany, Australia, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Ghana, and Georgia.
In 2016, he launched an online Bible college, which has grown to approximately 4,500 enrolled students. He also leads a digital platform aimed at addressing sexual addiction in the Middle East, serving about 1,500 individuals.
Additionally, Mani oversees a Farsi-language online ministry platform that delivers theological education and spiritual training. In 2024 and 2025, this platform produced 152 educational programs. The ministry supports over 20 full-time pastors in the Middle East.
Philanthropy and Charitable Giving
Over the past two decades, Mani Erfan has donated several million dollars to charitable and ministry organizations. His annual contributions typically range between $200,000 and $300,000. He has supported churches and ministries in Iran, Ghana, Nigeria, Turkey, Armenia, Bhutan, Greece, Australia, and the United States.