"In 2019, I looked around and realized there wasn't a single American-made kitchen knife in any retail store. That was the gap — and it was hiding in plain sight."— Ron Khormaei, PhD, Founder & CEO, STEELPORT Knife Company

What does it take to build a product in an era obsessed with speed and disposability? In this episode of DAREwithDarwoft, Ned Hayes sits down with Ron Khormaei, PhD — a tech industry veteran turned knife maker — to explore what it truly means to build for permanence. From his years at HP and Logitech to founding STEELPORT Knife Company in Portland, Ron shares how he spotted a gap no one else was filling and turned it into a new category of American craftsmanship.

The conversation covers the philosophy behind "modern American heirloom" design, the community ecosystem Ron has built around the brand, and why competing on quality — not price — is the only sustainable path for manufacturing in the U.S.

In this episode:

• Why there were zero American-made kitchen knives in retail stores in 2019 — and how Ron filled that gap

• What "heirloom" really means: carbon steel blades, lifetime warranties, and products built to develop character over time

• How Portland's collaborative maker culture became a competitive advantage

• Building community as a brand strategy — monthly chef demos, quarterly events, and radical local collaboration

If you're a founder who believes the best products aren't built to be replaced — this episode is for you.

Let's build what's next with a purpose. That's the only way to make something that lasts.