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.[3] 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.[4]

Frank Fakhrul Islam
Born
Azamgarh, India [1]
EducationMaster of Science in Computers
Alma materAligarh Muslim University,[1] University of Colorado
OccupationChairman & CEO of FI Investment Group
Spouse(s)Debbie Driesman[2]
Awards
Websitefrankislam.com

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.[5]

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.[5]

In 2007, he sold the firm to Perot Systems Corp. for $250 million in cash. Perot Systems Corp. was later acquired by Dell.[6] Dell's IT Services unit (primarily Perot Systems) 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.[7]

Philanthropy

Frank and his wife Debbie Driesman established a non-profit organization The Frank Islam and Debbie Driesman Foundation[8] that supports civic, educational, cultural and artistic causes in the United States and around the world.[9] His foundation also funded $2 million to the Business School in his alma mater Aligarh Muslim University.[10][11]

He supports Center for American Progress (CAP), a progressive public policy research and advocacy organization in United States.[12]

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.[4] He serves on several boards supporting social causes.

Frank also plans to develop educational institute of his home district Azamgarh.[13] He is the Board of Directors and Founding chairman of Potomac Charities, Inc.[14]

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 (2013 to 2019), Board of Directors, Strathmore Center for the Arts (2008 to 2012),[15] National Democratic Institute (NDI) Chairman's Council (2013 to 2016)[16] member of the Advisory Committee of the Export–Import Bank of the United States (2010 to 2011).[17]

Mr. Islam also serves as the member of the Kennedy Center International Committee on the Arts (2013 to present), International Advisory Council of the U.S. Institute of Peace (2009 to present), Woodrow Wilson Center National Cabinet (2012 to Present), Brookings Institution Council (2010 to present), Maryland Governor International Advisory Council (2011 to present), Department of Commerce Industry Trade Advisory Committee (ITAC) (2010 to present), Member of the JFK Library Foundation Board of Advisors (2017 to present), International Advisory Council of the United States Institute of Peace (2009 to present).[18]

With in the higher education involvement, Mr. Islam serves as the member of the advisory board at the School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) Johns Hopkins University Advisory Council (2013 to present), American University School of International Service Dean's Council (2013 to present), the Board of Trustees of the American University in the Emirates (AUE) (2012 to present), University of Malaysia (UTM) International Advisory Panel (2012 to present), George Mason University School of Management Dean's Council (2012 to present), and Member of the advisory board of the University of Maryland Smith School of business (2009 to present).[18]

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.

Bibliography

Frank has authored two books: Working the Pivot Points: To Make America Work Again[19] and Renewing the American Dream: A Citizen’s Guide for Restoring Our Competitive Advantage.[20] Frank also contribute for The Huffington Post[21] and also writes occasional columns and articles for publications such as the Foreign Policy, Daily Times,[22] the International Business Times and the Economic Times of India.

Awards & recognition

He was recognized by the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 1999[23] and the US Small Business Administration selected him as the Small Business Person of the Year of the Washington DC Metropolitan Area in 2001.[18] In 2014 he was awarded The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) Legends Award.[24] 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.[25] 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.[26]

gollark: > not using adblockee
gollark: HTech™ HMathic Systems™.
gollark: What is this even før anyway?!
gollark: Why not have some sort of AngleUnit enum instead of a bøøl?
gollark: I dislike your function's signatures, apioformoid.

References
  1. Agha, Eram (28 January 2015). "Man who went from Azamgarh to Obama's team". The Times of India. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
  2. Ayyub, Rana (12 May 2016). "Opinion: Frank Islam, From Azamgarh, A Big Face Of Team Hillary Clinton". NDTV.com.
  3. "Frank Islam - The Huffington Post".
  4. "Board of Trustees | The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Art". www.kennedy-center.org. Retrieved 5 February 2017.
  5. Rajghatta, Chidanand (21 June 2015). "Entrepreneurs are made, not born: Frank Islam, Indian-American entrepreneur". The Economic Times.
  6. us, Dell. "Financial News". Dell. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  7. Norton Manor is a 40,000-square-foot residence on nine acres in Potomac, Md., Washington Post, 24 September 2014
  8. "Frank Islam & Debbie Driesman Foundation".
  9. http://wikiurls.com/?http://www.bethesdamagazine.com/Bethesda-Magazine/March-April-2016/The-House-that-Frank-Islam-Built/
  10. "Frank Islam to dedicate $2-million management school at alma mater AMU". The Hindu. 6 February 2017.
  11. "Dr Frank Islam to be chief guest at Sir Syed Day 2019 celebration at AMU". Eduvast www.eduvast.com. Retrieved 11 October 2019.
  12. "Our Supporters 2015 - Center for American Progress". Center for American Progress.
  13. فرینک اسلام -- اعظم گڑھ کے ننداؤں سے امریکہ کا سفر, Hausla News, 2 December 2014
  14. "Potomac Charities Inc in Potomac, Maryland (MD) - NonProfitFacts.com". www.nonprofitfacts.com.
  15. Alam, Mumtaz (4 April 2014). "From Azamgarh to America: The success saga of Frank Islam - Maeeshat". www.maeeshat.in.
  16. "FRANK F. ISLAM". www.ndi.org. 7 September 2016.
  17. "Ex Im Bank Announces FY2010 Advisory Committee Members | EXIM.gov". exim.gov.
  18. "International Advisory Council". United States Institute of Peace.
  19. Islam, Frank; Crego, Ed (2013). Working the Pivot Points: To Make America Work Again. IMC Publishing. ISBN 9780984612628.
  20. Islam, Frank; Muñoz, George; Crego, Edwin T. (2010). Renewing the American Dream: A Citizen's Guide for Restoring Our Competitive Advantage. IMC Publishing. ISBN 9780615349770.
  21. "Frank Islam | HuffPost". huffingtonpost.com.
  22. "Frank F Islam Archives - Daily Times". Daily Times.
  23. "Dr. Frank F. Islam: An Immigrant's Trans-Pacific Success Saga – Cochin Herald Magazine". magazine.cochinherald.com.
  24. "3 Indian-Americans honoured by The Indus Entrepreneurs". The Economic Times. 13 December 2014.
  25. "Indian-American Frank Islam Receives Martin Luther Award". NDTV.com.
  26. "Frank Islam Biography - InterFaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington". ifcmw.org.
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