Our Team

Steven J. Bandawat was born and raised in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India. When he was nineteen, he immigrated to the United States and attended the University of Arizona, where he obtained a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering. He also earned a Masters in Chemical Engineering and Masters in Business Administration from the University of Toledo.

Mr. Bandawat was as much a self-made man as possible. He began his career in the corporate world as a salesperson at IBM, where he won many awards for his sharp sales skills and moved up quickly within the company as one of their most prodigious sales people. With a combination of hardcore business sensibilities, education, and industry knowledge, Steven successfully ventured out of corporate America to realize his dream of becoming an entrepreneur. In doing so he accumulated more than 50 years of business experience, successfully founding and/or acquiring more than a dozen companies spanning industries as diverse as manufacturing, real estate, and even hospitality, and was a proud member of the prestigious Young Presidents’ Organization.

Steven founded Michiana Forge in 1985 in the “Michiana” region as an ISO9000 certified manufacturer specializing in impression die forgings weighing from one ounce to two pounds. The company proudly touted its Chambersburg #8 Model C automated impacters, which were perfectly suited for high volume production runs on parts weighing less than one pound and requiring close tolerances. To meet demand, he expanded the business and its capabilities to include metal stampings, castings, machined parts, and plastic parts, and throughout the 1990s and early 2000s began offshoring manufacturing to lower cost markets. Under his leadership, the company was renamed MFI Global to reflect the company’s status as a world class manufacturer serving worldwide markets. He continued to serve as the company’s Chairman and foremost expert on global commerce and trade until his passing in 2018.

Steven was a resident of Paradise Valley, AZ for nearly 25 years and more recently Newport Beach, CA, and is survived by three grown children and his wife, Patricia. The renowned manufacturing company he established more than 35 years ago lives on as a testament to his vision and business acumen, with satisfied customers worldwide.