StateDemocracy Board of directors

Frank Islam, Chairman - StateDemocracy Foundation

Frank Islam is a successful entrepreneur and investor based in metropolitan Washington, DC.   He is the Chairman/CEO of FI Investment Group LLC (FIIG), an investment firm he founded in 2007.  FIIG focuses on providing growth capital to emerging companies, as well as managing specialized, branded funds through its affiliate, Blue Stone Capital Group, LLC.   His investment style centers on innovative strategies for value creation, such that he is often the first to invest within a new economic paradigm.

Frank previously was the founding Chairman/CEO of QSS, Inc., a leading Information Technology company, recently acquired by Perot Systems for approximately $250 million.  Through QSS, Frank garnered multiple industry awards for leadership, entrepreneurship and excellence.  (See examples at his personal website:  www.ffislam.com).

Frank is a well-known philanthropist whose private foundation supports educational, cultural and artistic causes worldwide.  He personally participates in a number of non-profit organizations, such as the Strathmore Center for the Arts (located in Montgomery County, Maryland), as well as chairing the StateDemocracy Foundation.  He speaks often at a variety of commercial and non-profit forums, and is frequently included in press coverage.  (See www.ffislam.com for some recent press clippings).

In all endeavors, whether in the world of business or charity, Frank strives to create opportunities that are sustainable and uplifting for humanity -- always guided by the virtues of hard work, focus, quality, innovation and kindness!  

Ken Laureys

Ken Laureys and Shukoor Ahmed met while both were involved in the Bill Bradley Presidential Primary campaign in 2000.  Given his two-decade background in nonprofit advocacy, and a Master’s degree in Government and Politics, Ken immediately appreciated the power of Shukoor’s vision for using the Internet to connect citizens to their lawmakers.

Ken and Shukoor both live in Prince George’s County, Maryland (right outside Washington, DC), and they have both run for elected office:  Ken for County Council and Shukoor for State Delegate.  Their closely contested (if ultimately losing) races gave them both a greater understanding about the needs of candidates and constituents, which has been invested into improving StateDemocracy.org and other ventures.

Ken’s background includes lobbying on Capitol Hill for people with autism and other disabilities; Executive Director of an Irish-American association promoting the Good Friday Peace Agreement; Deputy Director of the County Community Relations Office, and extensive civic activism in his hometown of Riverdale Park, Maryland.

John Giannetti

Showed the traits of a leader right from his school days. In his college days the same zeal continued and that helped him win the Outstanding Student Leader Award from the University of Maryland in 1993- and this was just the beginning for John. After graduating from the law school in 1994, he stepped into full time politics. Infact last year, John led Senate Floor defense of two major bills: The Felony Assault on Police Officers Act of 2005 and Hate Crimes Act of 2005 to help them pass through Senate. Interestingly, both were passed and were signed into law. This year he also won the "Legislator of the Year" Award from the state-wide Fraternal Order of Police.

Founder Shukoor Ahmed