Biography of Mani Erfan
Mani Erfan is a chemical engineer, global entrepreneur, and industrial leader with more than 33 years of experience in the catalyst industry. Based in Houston, Texas, he has created, expanded, and led companies in catalyst manufacturing, purification, and recycling. He founded a catalyst company that grew into a global business, achieving over $700 million in total product sales before being sold in 2020. He now serves as the Chief Executive Officer of a catalyst-recycling company generating close to $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 recorded around 38,000 flight hours during his career, among the highest totals globally at that time. In 1983, at the age of 17, he moved to the United States, where he quickly adapted to a new language, culture, and education system. He began his studies at the University of Florida in 1984, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering. Completing 157 credit hours in under four years, he earned high honors upon graduation in August 1988, finishing with a 3.88 GPA.
Early Engineering Career After completing his degree, he joined a major chemical company in Texas as a Process Engineer. From August 1988 through January 1990, he analyzed chemical processes, identified inefficiencies, and proposed operational improvements. His work focused on aligning system performance with production goals.
Sales Engineering at Haldor Topsoe In 1990, he joined a Danish catalyst firm in Houston as a Sales Engineer, concentrating on ammonia catalyst sales. Assigned to a 26-state territory that initially had low sales, he combined technical support with commercial responsibilities and customer engagement. Over three years, he increased sales from approximately $1.4 million to between $6.2 and $6.5 million. Due to this growth, he was promoted to Sales Manager, becoming the youngest individual to reach that position at the time.
International Expansion at Parkans International In 1993, he became International Sales Manager at a Houston-based company that focused on catalyst recycling and metal recovery. At the start of his tenure, international revenue was around $1 million per year. Under his leadership, the company expanded its reach into Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Kuwait, Qatar, and several European countries. By 2000, international revenue had grown to roughly $11 million annually. He was then promoted to General Sales Manager.
Founding and Building Unicat Catalyst Technologies In 2000, Mani Erfan founded a catalyst business in Alvin, Texas, with around $50,000 in starting capital and no initial revenue. As President and CEO, he directed product development, technical innovation, marketing, and global strategy.
Over 21 years, the company grew into a global operation with total sales exceeding $700 million and a peak annual revenue of nearly $40 million. In August 2020, the company was sold for approximately $38 million.
Leadership at IRA Catalyst Consultants and IRA Industrial Solutions While developing his catalyst company, he also founded a consulting business in 1999 that later became a provider of catalyst recycling and industrial solutions. Headquartered in Houston, the company serves clients worldwide with operations in more than 10 countries. As President and CEO, he led the firm to achieve annual revenues of $7.5-$8 million by 2021, with international sales playing a significant role in the business.
Evangelism and Ministry Leadership Since 1992, Mani has been active in evangelism and church planting in Iran and throughout the Middle East. He founded a nonprofit ministry that supports underground churches in Iran and conducts ministry activities in Turkey, Germany, Australia, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Ghana, and Georgia. In 2016, he launched an online Bible college, which has since enrolled around 4,500 students. He also manages an online platform that addresses sexual addiction issues in the Middle East, serving around 1,500 individuals. In addition, Mani operates an online Farsi-language ministry that offers theological training and spiritual resources. In 2024 and 2025 alone, this platform produced 152 programs aimed at education and encouragement. The ministry currently supports more than 20 full-time pastors across the Middle East.
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 has ranged from $200,000 to $300,000. Organizations supported include ministries and churches operating in Iran, the United States, Ghana, Nigeria, Turkey, Bhutan, Armenia, Australia, Greece, and other regions.