Frank F Islam


Frank Islam is an information technology entrepreneur, investor, philanthropist, civic leader, and writer who heads the FI Investment Group. He was the founder and CEO of the QSS Group. US President Barack Obama appointed him to be the General Trustee of the Board of Trustees of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in 2013.

Early life and career

Islam was born in Azamgarh. He immigrated to the United States from India in 1970 when he was only 15 years old. He completed B.S. and M.S. in computer sciences from the University of Colorado at Boulder. He also worked at some fast food joints to make money for living. His original name was Shah Islam, he got the name Frank from one of his professors at the University of Colorado.

Entrepreneurship

Islam started the QSS Group in Lanham, a federal government IT services company, 1994 with a $50,000 bank loan. In 13 years he transformed it in to a company with more than 3,000 staffs and a revenue of nearly $300 million.
In 2007, he sold the firm to Perot Systems Corp. for $250 million in cash. Perot Systems Corp. was later acquired by Dell. Dell's IT Services unit was acquired by NTT Data in 2016. He founded the FI investment Group, a private investment holding company after he sold QSS Group.

Norton manor

In 2014 Islam built Norton Manor, a 470,000 square-foot faux-Old European estate in Potomac, where he regularly staged events for the Democratic Party. It took six years to build and inspired by White House.

Philanthropy

Frank and his wife Debbie Driesman established a non-profit organization The Frank Islam and Debbie Driesman Foundation that supports civic, educational, cultural and artistic causes in the United States and around the world. His foundation also funded $2 million to the Business School in his alma mater Aligarh Muslim University.
He supports Center for American Progress, a progressive public policy research and advocacy organization in United States.
In September, 2013, US President Barack Obama appointed him to be the General Trustee of the Board of Trustees of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. He serves on several boards supporting social causes.
Frank also plans to develop educational institute of his home district Azamgarh. He is the Board of Directors and Founding chairman of Potomac Charities, Inc.

Advisory councils and boards

Frank has served a number of boards and advisory councils that include the Board of Trustees of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Board of Directors, Strathmore Center for the Arts, National Democratic Institute Chairman's Council member of the Advisory Committee of the Export–Import Bank of the United States.
Mr. Islam also serves as the member of the Kennedy Center International Committee on the Arts, International Advisory Council of the U.S. Institute of Peace, Woodrow Wilson Center National Cabinet, Brookings Institution Council, Maryland Governor International Advisory Council, Department of Commerce Industry Trade Advisory Committee , Member of the JFK Library Foundation Board of Advisors, International Advisory Council of the United States Institute of Peace.
With in the higher education involvement, Mr. Islam serves as the member of the advisory board at the School of Advanced International Studies Johns Hopkins University Advisory Council, American University School of International Service Dean's Council, the Board of Trustees of the American University in the Emirates , University of Malaysia International Advisory Panel, George Mason University School of Management Dean's Council, and Member of the advisory board of the University of Maryland Smith School of business.

Washington current review

He hosts his own TV show Washington Current Review on MHz Networks and is called upon to speak frequently in a variety of business, education and non-profit venues.

Awards & recognition

He was recognized by the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 1999 and the US Small Business Administration selected him as the Small Business Person of the Year of the Washington DC Metropolitan Area in 2001. In 2014 he was awarded The Indus Entrepreneurs Legends Award. Plaque to Honor Frank Islam's Gift to the University of Colorado. In 2015 he was awarded Martin Luther King Jr. Legacy Award for his contribution in international service and civil engagement International Service. Fast 50 Award. Conference Room at the U.S. Institute of Peace is Named After Frank Islam and his wife.
Mr. Islam is the honoree of the InterFaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington in 2016.