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CU alumnus, author to appear at Conference on World Affairs

When Frank Islam talks about the American dream, he knows whereof he speaks.

Born in India, Islam immigrated to the United States at 15. He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in computer science from the University of Colorado.

After working extensively in the federal government, he founded QSS Group, an information-technology company.

“I believe if you aim high and if you work hard, you should be able to pursue your dream,” he told the Potomac Almanac last year. “Through hard work and initiative, I was able to build an information-technology business from less than $100,000 to over $300 million in 12 years and sell it to Ross Perot in 2007 for $250 million.”

Though he has lived the American dream, Islam believes that dream is in peril. He and co-authors George Muoz and Ed Crego make that case—and offer suggestions on how to reverse the trend—in a recently published book called “Renewing the American Dream.”

Islam, who will be a participant in this year’s Conference on World Affairs at CU, now serves as CEO of FI Investment Group LLC, which focuses on providing growth capital to emerging companies and manages specialized and branded funds.

Islam and his co-authors define the American dream as the opportunity of citizens to realize their potential and to succeed, which includes “getting educated and working hard in order to have a good job that pays decent wages, provides adequate benefits, puts food on the table and a roof over one’s head, and allows for retirement with dignity.”

Islam says the dream is a