Ron Khormaei
Ron Khormaei is the founder and CEO of Steelport Knife Co., a company reintroducing American-forged cutlery. With a PhD in electrical engineering, he blends technical precision with culinary passion to craft heirloom-quality knives.
Ron Khormaei's Bio
Ron Khormaei is the founder and CEO of Steelport Knife Co., a Portland-based company producing handcrafted kitchen knives that combine premium materials, traditional forging techniques, and American heirloom craftsmanship. Steelport has become a cornerstone of Portland's knife-making scene, where more than half of all knives made in the U.S. are produced.
Before entering the cutlery world, Khormaei earned a doctorate in electrical engineering and immigrated to the United States from Iran as a teenager-an experience he says shaped his ethics and approach to business. His technical background and immigrant drive laid the foundation for a career built on precision and perseverance.
Khormaei co-founded STEELPORT Knife Co. alongside bladesmith Eytan Zias, forging what has been called one of the most potent duos in knife making. The company's products are now available at Sur La Table locations nationwide, making Steelport the only American-made knife sold there. Before Steelport, Khormaei co-founded and served as CEO of Finex Cookware, another successful startup in the kitchen goods space.
Today, Steelport continues to grow from its Northeast Portland factory, blending small-batch craftsmanship with broader retail distribution while maintaining its focus on quality and local manufacturing.
Career Timeline
1983 — Immigrated to the United States from Iran
Left Iran at age 15, eventually settling in Corvallis, Oregon
1988 — Earned B.S. in Electrical Engineering at Oregon State University
Completed bachelor's degree in just 2.5 years
1989 — Earned M.S. in Electrical Engineering at Oregon State University
Completed master's degree in nine months while working
1995 — Earned Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering at Oregon State University
Completed doctorate while working full-time at Planar Systems
2012 — Founded FINEX Cast Iron Cookware
Launched premium American-made cast iron cookware company
2019 — FINEX acquired by Lodge
Exited FINEX after successful acquisition by Lodge, freeing him to pursue new ventures
2021 — Founded Steelport Knife Co.
Co-founded Steelport with bladesmith Eytan Zias; released first knife and became Director of Industry Partnerships at Oregon State University
