When the Business Center for Entrepreneurship and Social Enterprise in Mount Airy held its Best Practices in Action Awards celebration they honored some of the areas rising business leaders.

Honored were Bonds Craft owner Barbara Bond, AuNaturale owner Michelle Tollen, BFW Group owner Blane Stoddart, and Career Compass owner Ayana Pilgrim-Brown. That event was held at the October Gallery, 7165 Germantown Ave.

Now, Pamela Rich-Wheeler, director of the Business Center, is inviting more to join the ranks of business ownership. The center will be hosting its “How to Write a Business Plan” starting at the end of the month at their offices located on the New Covenant Church campus, 9500 Germantown Ave. Thursday evening sessions will begin on Jan. 26 and last from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Saturday sessions will begin on Jan. 28 running 9 a.m. to noon.

“The reality is that not everyone who is unemployed will be able to find a job working for someone else,” Rich-Wheeler said. “The world is not the way it used to be. That’s why we took the time to celebrate those who understand the best practices in running your own business. Barbara Bond was one of our business plan competition winners and now has a successful business on the 6300 block of Germantown Avenue.

The recent awardees also included Polished Professional owner Alicia Agnew and 11-year-old Elijah Brockington, the owner of Elijah’s Lemonade Stand. He previously completed the program’s summer youth entrepreneurship program.

“It’s never too early or too late to learn about entrepreneurship,” Rich-Wheeler said. “Elijah is learning early that you have to have a plan. He opened his stand outside his mother’s job rather than outside his home. When he went on vacation he had to hire an employee.

“He will tell you the pros and cons, but he also knows that business ownership is an option,” she added. “It is something that is achievable. That’s why it’s important to learn how to do a business plan no matter who you are.”

Registration is now open for the winter session of “How to Write a Business Plan.” There is a fee for the program, but there are scholarships available for the financially strapped. For more information call (215) 247-2473, ext. 7.