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Norman J. Bastin, B.S., M.B.A. - Founder and President. Mr. Bastin is a successful entrepreneur with a proven track record in growing companies and branding/launching new products. He is equally comfortable and successful in the worlds of finance and creative endeavors. A visionary leader, he has multi-disciplinary expertise in finance, strategic planning, marketing, product development, mergers and acquisitions, and initial public offerings. Mr. Bastin is well recognized in the industries of e-commerce (both B2C and B2B), healthcare, software, publishing, education and entertainment, as well as financial communities A branding specialist, Norm successfully launched four well-known consumer brand companies - Evelyn Wood Reading Dynamics, Reading Game Centers (now Sylvan Learning Centers), Compton's NewMedia and nu.millennia. In each of these, he had P&L responsibility and profitably managed 100%+ growth per year. Mr. Bastin also co-founded a leading B2B Internet company, The Online Asset Exchange, along with legendary executive Lee Iacocca, and moved it into the number one recognized site in the market. Mr. Bastin is currently President of Advanced Nutraceuticals, Inc. This rapidly growing company specializes in the direct marketing of both prescriptive and non-prescriptive anti-aging products. The company has experienced 30% growth per month and achieved profitability in less than one year. As the co-founder and COO of Compton's NewMedia, he was a leading team member in creating one of the best selling titles of all time - Compton's Interactive Encyclopedia. Selling over 62 million copies, as well as becoming a leading Internet product, made Compton's a well-known brand name. Mr. Bastin also managed the development of over 100 best selling software and CD ROM titles in various categories such as children's education, healthcare, and business. At Compton's and nu.millennia, the companies' products received the highest critical acclaims from national publications. Infomercials were a key component of Compton's growth and the factor creating its early success. In 1985, he re-launched the Reading Game, a national company providing remedial and advanced educational instruction, with an initial investment of $6.5 million. During the next year, the company created educational programs, and all related marketing and collateral material and opened 135 centers. Fifteen months from its initial launch, the company completed a successful IPO with a market capitalization of $80 million - a 12-fold increase for the original investors. Now known as Sylvan Learning Centers, the company has a market cap of well over $800 million. Norm is considered one of the top 50 visionaries in the digital media arena. A sought after industry expert, Mr. Bastin has appeared on Good Morning America, Today Show, CBS Morning News, National Public Radio's All Things Considered, as well as numerous appearances on CNN and local stations across the country. Mr. Bastin has been written about or quoted in national publications including the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Investor Business Daily, New York Times, Washington Post, LA Times, the San Diego Union-Tribune and numerous additional newspaper and magazines. | 