Mani Erfan is a chemical engineer, international entrepreneur, and industrial executive with over 33 years of leadership in the global catalyst sector. Operating from Houston, Texas, he has established and led businesses in catalyst manufacturing, recycling, and purification technologies. He founded a company that became a global catalyst provider, achieving over $700 million in total product sales before its 2020 acquisition. He now serves as the Chief Executive Officer of a catalyst-recycling business with approximately $8 million in annual revenue.
Early Life and Education
Born in Iran in 1966, Mani was raised in a family with a strong professional background. His father worked as a commercial pilot for Iran Air and accumulated nearly 38,000 flight hours, among the highest in the world at the time. In 1983, at 17, he immigrated to the United States. The transition required swift adaptation to a new language and culture.
Mani began his studies at the University of Florida in 1984, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering. He completed 157 credit hours in under four years, a notable accomplishment for the institution. He graduated in August 1988 with high honors and a cumulative GPA of 3.88.
Early Engineering Career
After graduation, he started his engineering career at Chevron Chemical’s Cedar Bayou facility in Texas. From August 1988 to January 1990, he served as a Process Engineer. His role focused on evaluating operations, identifying process inefficiencies, and suggesting improvements to align with production forecasts.
Sales Engineering at Haldor Topsoe
In 1990, Mani joined a Danish catalyst company in Houston as a Sales Engineer. He was responsible for ammonia catalyst sales across a 26-state region. Initially, the area produced low sales volumes. His responsibilities blended technical service, customer interaction, and direct sales.
Over three years, he expanded sales from roughly $1.4 million to between $6.2 and $6.5 million annually. He was promoted to Sales Manager, becoming the youngest individual to hold that position within the company.
International Expansion at Parkans International
In 1993, Mani transitioned to a catalyst recycling and metals reclamation company in Houston as International Sales Manager. At the time, overseas sales totaled about $1 million annually.
Through his leadership, the company opened operations in countries such as Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Kuwait, Qatar, and multiple locations within the European Union. Over seven years, international sales increased to around $11 million annually. By 2000, he was promoted to General Sales Manager.
Founding and Building Unicat Catalyst Technologies
In 2000, Mani Erfan launched a catalyst business in Alvin, Texas, with around $50,000 in capital and no initial revenue. As President and CEO, he directed the company’s technical development, innovation strategy, and global market expansion.
Over 21 years, the company has become a well-known name in the catalyst industry, with global operations and cumulative sales exceeding $700 million. At its peak, annual revenue reached approximately $40 million. In August 2020, the business was sold for roughly $38 million.
Leadership at IRA Catalyst Consultants and IRA Industrial Solutions
Mani founded a consulting company in 1999, later known as IRA Industrial Solutions, headquartered in Houston. The business focuses on catalyst recycling, industrial support, and metals recovery for international markets.
As President and CEO, he led activities in over 10 countries. By 2021, the company’s revenue ranged from $7.5 million to $8 million, with strong international performance.
Evangelism and Ministry Leadership
Since 1992, he has actively supported evangelism and church efforts across Iran and the Middle East. He founded a nonprofit organization to assist underground church networks and provide ministry services in countries including Turkey, Germany, Australia, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Ghana, and Georgia.
In 2016, he established an online Bible college, which has enrolled about 4,500 students to date. He also manages a digital platform dedicated to addressing sexual addiction in the Middle East, supporting around 1,500 individuals.
One of his major ongoing projects is an online ministry that delivers Farsi-language theological training. In 2024 and 2025, this initiative produced 152 educational programs. The ministry supports over 20 full-time pastors in the Middle East.
Philanthropy and Charitable Giving
For the past two decades, Mani Erfan has contributed several million dollars to charitable and ministry-related organizations. His annual donations typically range from $200,000 to $300,000. Beneficiaries include ministries in countries such as Ghana, Nigeria, Bhutan, Turkey, Armenia, Australia, and Greece. Supported organizations include Iran Alive Ministries, Somebody Cares USA, Send Me Out Ministries, CCM Evangelical Ministries, Church, Citymark Church, and Love TV.
