One local coffee roaster was acknowledged for her efforts within the community Thursday night.

Kerri Ann Colby the owner/operator of Rebel Bean Coffee Roasters was the recipient of the New Business Award at the Business Excellence Awards. Day roasts and creates numerous flavours of coffee locally and has a partnership with Home Ground Coffee & Roasting House which uses her beans to make their delicious brews.

Colby says it's been quite the journey from the start-up of her business to now distributing to numerous communities outside of Okotoks.

"Really it was mostly my friends that were buying the coffee and sharing it," she chuckled. "Even today when I see people that I don't know that come in and buy the coffee or talking to other people about how great it is, I'm awestruck that the business has evolved to the point it has."

Colby started her business with a loan from Community Futures Highwood and her friendship with Home Ground owner Heather Vanlaalst first working for her and then taking over the coffee roasting responsibilities gave her her the opportunity to make a name for herself.

With a family and look for a change in her lifestyle she says Rebel Bean couldn't have appeared at a better time.

"It came in a time in my life when I really needed to have my own business, so I just took over and re-branded and started from scratch two and a half years ago."

Rebel Bean has started numerous partnerships with many local businesses in town which she says has been beneficial creating a strong connection with the business community.

"I feel like I'm in the flow of things, everything just kind of fell into my lap from the opportunity when it presented itself to me and then Heather having the coffee shop and being willing to just take my beans to supply her shop without any questions."

For more on Rebel Bean's locally produced coffee visit the link here.