About our CEO

Andrew F. Silverman is the consummate entrepreneur and international businessman. In 2005, Silverman formed the investment firm QGroup Enterprises, which comprises companies he established and continues to direct, companies for which he secured financing, and companies with which he has professional relations and involvement. As founder and CEO of DataQ Internet Equipment, and as a member of the Board of Directors for Argos Technologies, Silverman is on the cutting edge of trends in technology as well as in business.

After graduating from Pennsylvania State University in May 1985 with a BS in Electrical Engineering, Silverman began his career in Chicago as a Sales Engineer with Reliance Electric/Reliance Comm-Tec where he also ran an Executive Training Program. Silverman remained with Reliance for two years during which time he created A&A Connections (now known as DataQDirect, Inc.), a company that distributes parts for telephone communications systems.

Silverman's interest in communications technology was spawned well in advance of his college career. At age 13, Silverman was the youngest ham radio operator to achieve "expert" status. At that time he sent and received Morse code at a record 70 words per minute. The recognition was the first of many honors bestowed upon this overachiever. In 1992 Silverman received the Philadelphia Business Journal's Forty Under Forty award and was among a small group of national finalists for Inc. Magazine's Entrepreneur of The Year award.

The Philadelphia Business Journal and prestigious Wharton School of Business named Silverman's A&A Connections among Philadelphia's Top 100 fastest growing companies for six consecutive years. A&A Connections also enjoys a permanent position in the Philadelphia Top 100 Hall of Fame.

Silverman leads the industry in alternative networks and the international marketing of unused equipment solutions. Among his career highlights, Silverman boasts productivity in excess of $1.8 million per employee; development of the first telecom equipment remarketing and repair businesses in Germany and The United Kingdom; and initiating cellular development projects in The Philippines, Senegal, Ghana, Russia, The Ukraine, Mali, Liberia, Belorusskaya, and Vietnam. In addition, Silverman's international experience includes:

• Selling and installing used PBX equipment in China for operation as public switches in rural areas.
• Initiating creative marketing arrangements in Somalia, Belize, Vietnam, Ghana, Russia, Jordan, Uganda, Argentina, Chile, Singapore, and Senegal.
• Conducting telecommunication transactions on behalf of A&A Connections, its subsidiaries, and related joint ventures in Vietnam, Brazil, Singapore, China, Turkey, Cyprus, Senagal, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Taiwan, Hong Kong, The Philippines, Israel, Indonesia, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mali, Malaysia, Russia, Czech Republic, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Belgium, The Netherlands, Sweden, Finland, Ireland, Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Greece, Thailand, and South Africa.

Silverman's consulting experience includes arrangements with Fortune 500 companies, including McCaw International, Comcast International, and Comsat. He acted as a consultant to the governments of the Turkish Republic of Cyprus, Republic of Senegal, and Republic of Mali, on developing their nations' first cellular telephone system. He consulted on the expansion of international lines and private digital circuit business for the governments of Ghana, Jordan, and Senegal. He is a founder of the National Association of Telecom Dealers.

Besides operating several organizations, Silverman remains active with a variety of non-profit organizations. He is a frequent guest speaker and lecturer at The University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Business and Temple University. He is a member of the Board of Directors for the Lower Merion Ice Hockey Club, a participating member of Pacific Telecom Council and North American Telecom Association. As a former high school and youth ice hockey coach, Silverman raised $40,000 and organized a trip for two youth hockey teams to Finland and Estonia in 2005.

Silverman resides in the Philadelphia, PA suburbs with his wife and three children. He currently coaches his son's youth lacrosse team and is, himself, a former NCAA lacrosse player. Silverman also coaches individual running/jogging lessons and donates the proceeds to the Alzheimer's Foundation. He is in training for the Ironman Triathlon World Championship.

When asked about his business goals, Silverman says, "I want to operate a high quality international telecommunications network to provide customers cost effective and comprehensive communication solutions. These customer values can be provided through strategic joint venture relationships utilizing little or no outside capital thereby minimizing risks while maximizing rewards for all partners."