Alex Fees: I’m Alex Fees on SBTV.com. We are coming to you from our nation’s capital from the 2008 NFIB National Small Business Summit, and joining me here now is Julie Carney. Julie is the Program Director of the NFIB Young Entrepreneur Foundation. Do I have that right?
Julie Carney: I’m actually Program Manager but—
Alex Fees: Program Manager?
Julie Carney: Yes, for the Entrepreneur—
Alex Fees: For the promotion there…
Julie Carney: Hey, I’ll take it.
Alex Fees And Julie is going to talk to us about Johnny Money, is that right.
Julie Carney: That is, that is correct.
Alex Fees: That’s the name.
Julie Carney: It is an online small business simulation game that we’ve been working to develop as part of our Entrepreneur in the Classroom curriculum.
Alex Fees: Julie, who plays Johnny Money?
Julie Carney: Well it is targeted towards the 14 to 18-year-old demographics, so high school students who are interested in having a hands-on experience with entrepreneurship.
Alex Fees: All right so you contract them with what, school districts?
Julie Carney: Oh actually all of our programs are available to the public for free. It’s going to be available in September 2008 to any classroom, any teacher regardless of (Really?) where they’re located or what type of classroom they teach in.
Alex Fees: September 2—next school year?
Julie Carney: Correct. Just in time for our 2008-2009 school year.
Alex Fees: And this is brand new?
Julie Carney: Brand new. We have been partnering with the new school to help develops—
Alex Fees: Wow.
Julie Carney: realistic simulation that allows students to see what it’s like to run a small business and experience day-to-day interactions and challenges but also the rewards of owning their own small business.
Alex Fees: So how would you characterize it? Is it like something that we’re familiar with?
Julie Carney: If you’ve ever heard of Sims, Sims City, some of those online interactive games, it’s similar to that but ours has an educational component that we feel really sets it apart from some of the other things in the market right now.
Alex Fees: Ok and what are you hoping young people gain from this.
Julie Carney: I’m hoping that they gain a greater understanding of what it means to be an entrepreneur. There’s some challenges but there are also some great rewards working with people, creating jobs in their community and just really understanding what they could take, they could take in away from this and turn a passion into a reality.
Alex Fees: Ok and again, this is for what age group?
Julie Carney: The 14 to 18-year-old market, so high school students, grades nine to 12.
Alex Fees: So do you think Julie, is this going to be exposure that you know, that current level or group of high school students has that their predecessors did not have as far as entrepreneurship and business is concerned.
Julie Carney: Most definitively. We’re seeing a trend right now across the country where entrepreneur education is really coming to the forefront in the educational community. States are wanting new innovative ways to help reinforce and teach financial and business education. We really feel that this is a tool that can help educators bring a modern setting on entrepreneurship and business, instead of just using textbooks and workbooks.
Alex Fees: So Julie, will it have to be a teacher that inquires about this or sets this up, or can a parent or a student…?
Julie Carney: Most definitely. It is available online or will be available online to the public. We are going to market first initially to the educators but teachers and school boards and juts anyone will be able to find it and recommend it that their classrooms use it.
Alex Fees: And where can people go for more information about Johnny Money.
Julie Carney: Sure, www.NFIB.com/eitc.
Alex Fees: And you say it debuts in September of ’08. (September of ’08.) Is the information available now though?
Julie Carney: It sure is, as well as the demo on the website.
Alex Fees: Wow, very exciting. All right, good deal. Again, she is Julie Carney. Julie, I appreciate you for being here.
Julie Carney: Thank you. Thank you for your time.
Alex Fees: She is with NFIB. I’m Alex Fees. I’m with SBTV.
Transcription by:
Scribe4you Transcription Services