Building and maintaining a successful business was a common goal shared by several business people at Tuesday’s SUCCEED luncheon.

While only two businesses were honored in the 2009 Stimulating Unlimited Cass County Entrepreneurs and Economic Development (SUCCEED) Business Planning Competition, Scott Jellison felt all of the participants were winners.

“In the end, it’s worth it,” said Scott. “Whether you win or lose, writing the plan was important for the business.”

Walnut Valley Bison, owned by Scott and Beth Jellison and Brian and Gina Shafer, was announced as the winner for the existing business category. Teri Hawes, owner of Savanah Vintage, won the start-up category.

Since its creation in 2005, SUCCEED’s program directors have given out honored small businesses in Cass County.

Amy Beechy, business development director at Area Five, was pleased with this year’s entrees.

“Each year the business plans get better and better,” she said.

That doesn’t surprise Beechy though, who noted the program is about building a support system for small Cass County businesses.

“I don’t think it’s an accident that it’s working,” she said.

Accepting the award for Wabash Valley Bison, the Jellisons were surprised to earn the honor.

“It’s a good opportunity,” Scott said. “We learned a lot. It definitely positioned us to move to the next stage of the business.”

The business received $5,000 cash and a variety of other prizes to help it expand.

Walnut Valley Bison is a full-spectrum bison operation and sells custom cut choices of meat to customers, wholesale distributors, restaurants and meat markets. It hopes to expand with new fencing, pasture development, a small store and a Web-based store.

Business owners attend eight weeks of classes during the SUCCEED program. The classes help them identify their business plan and follow its objectives.

Amelio’s and Ike’s Sports Bar also competed in the existing business category.

Hawes also won $5,000 cash and a list of other prizes to help with opening her business.

Hawes’ new business will sell antiques, as well as local artwork and will be located on Banker’s Row. She hopes the business will help revitalize the area in the near future.

She is grateful for the monetary award, but added all the prizes will help her out in starting her business.

“Just going through the business plan classes was more helpful than anything else,” said Hawes. “It helped me figure out what I needed to know and what I didn’t know.”

The program for start-up businesses consisted of four weeks of analyzing each person’s business idea, to see if it was viable, Hawes said. An additional 12 weeks of classes helped the owners write a business plan.

Also competing in the start-up business categories were Teresa Moore, owner of T’s and C’s Decorated Apparel; John Barber, owner of River City Hearth; and Natasha Walters, owner of Recycle Fitness and Wellness.

Douglas Curry, who owns Vasc-alert, a small business in Purdue Research Park, was the featured speaker. He offered key points on being a successful small business.

According to Beechy, the SUCCEED program doesn’t end with the awards. She said those involved will continue to provide support and training to winning businesses.

Beechy has high hopes for the future of both the SUCCEED program and its participants. She also hopes to see quality businesses create new jobs and contribute to the quality of life in Cass County.

“I’m ready to start helping people compete for next year,” she said. “It can take as long as a year to write out a business plan.”

• Denise Massie is a staff writer at the Pharos-Tribune. She can be reached at (574) 732-5151 or denise.massie@pharostribune.com