Virtual business world

A class at Marina High School held a grand opening Tuesday for Arcade World 11, a company that has a chief executive, departments, a website and, of course, products. It’s just like any other company, except that it doesn’t actually exist.

The students worked on building the business for a year, guided by teacher Marilyn Cunneen. The class is part of a Regional Occupation Program. “I’ve always wanted to start my own business,” said Amanda Negrete, Arcade World 11’s chief executive. She plans to take some courses at Golden West before enrolling at her dream college, Cal State Long Beach.

“It’s probably going to be the best experience of my life,” Negrete said. “It’s taught me so much!”

Cunneen asked students to write cover letters and resumes, and she interviewed each one before appointing a chief executive and department heads.

“I hope they take what they have learned in this class and apply it in the real world,” Cunneen said.

Blake Guthrie, the company’s vice president of technology, did an incredible job, Cunneen said. “He went above and beyond his duty ? he taught all the employees of his department how to design video games and they came up with seven different games,” she explained.

Students visited trade fairs in San Diego and Long Beach to learn about managing a business.

The elective class is not a conventional one with the teacher lecturing to students. “I don’t stand up and teach; I act as a consultant,” Cunneen said.

But that also makes life harder for her. “It’s five classes in one, because all the kids are doing something different.”

Students chose the department they wanted to be involved in ? human resources, sales, accounting, information technology, marketing and public relations ? and worked as coordinators.

Savannah Evans, head of human resources, compiled an employee handbook and wrote newsletters for the employees.Jon Montgomery, vice president of banking, made sure employees were paid on time, sending out invoices and logging all the checks in an electronic account.

Many of the 28 students will graduate in June, and it’s an experience they say they will never forget.

“When I go home, I am still talking about Arcade World,” Negrete said. hbi.25-virtual-CPhotoInfo3J1R8POS20060525izqtwwncCHRISTOPHER WAGNER / INDEPENDENT(LA)Brittanie Simpson, right, of Arcade World, writes down the video games that Caitlyn MacLean and Jonathan Wright, on left, want to purchase as the two search through the catalogue at Marina High School in Huntington Beach. The most popular games sold were “Halo 2” and “Grand Theft Auto.”