Ace Overhead Doors has earned an exciting regional honor: the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut named the company its 2026 Small Business of the Year.
The award recognizes businesses that contribute to Eastern Connecticut through dependable service, steady growth, strong leadership, and meaningful community involvement. For the team at Ace Overhead Doors, it celebrates years of hard work and a commitment to treating every customer with honesty and respect.
From a Side Business to a Growing Local Company
Owner Tom Ljubicic started Ace Overhead Doors in 2009 after working part-time in the overhead door industry for several years. What began as a side business serving local property owners continued to grow as more customers sought the company’s help.
Tom initially handled the work himself, often completing service calls during evenings and weekends. As demand increased, Ace Overhead Doors began building a larger team. Jeff Steel joined as a full-time technician in 2019, while Tom’s wife, Amanda Ljubicic, joined the company in 2020 to oversee its administrative operations. Additional team members followed as the business continued expanding.
Today, Ace Overhead Doors remains an independent, family-owned and operated company with deep roots in the Mystic area. Its development from a small operation into a growing regional service provider reflects the persistence, adaptability, and personal attention that often distinguish successful local businesses.
A Customer-First Approach to Overhead Door Services
The success of Ace Overhead Doors is built on more than technical ability. The company emphasizes clear communication, honest recommendations, dependable products, and solutions tailored to each customer’s property and budget.
Rather than relying on high-pressure sales tactics, the team helps customers understand their options so they can make informed decisions. Whether the project involves an urgent repair, a new residential garage door, or a technically complex commercial installation, the company approaches each job with care and professionalism.
Ace Overhead Doors provides a range of services for residential and commercial customers, including:
- Residential and commercial garage door installation
- Garage door repairs
- Broken spring replacement
- Off-track door repair
- Garage door opener installation and service
- Commercial overhead door systems
- Fire door drop testing and inspections
- Emergency garage door services
The company also stands behind its workmanship by providing a one-year warranty on its garage door services.
Serving Homes and Businesses Across the Region
Ace Overhead Doors serves Mystic and surrounding communities throughout Eastern Connecticut. The company also holds registrations in Connecticut and Rhode Island, allowing its team to support property owners across a broader service area.
From restoring a malfunctioning garage door to helping an owner select a door that complements a property’s design, the team focuses on practical solutions that offer safety, reliability, and long-term value.
This service philosophy is closely connected to the company’s stated values: staying customer-focused, pursuing excellence, taking pride in its work, and solving problems together. Those principles have helped Ace Overhead Doors build lasting relationships with homeowners, builders, architects, and local businesses.
Recognition Worth Celebrating
The Chamber’s Small Business of the Year award is part of the 2026 ECTy Awards, which recognize businesses, nonprofit organizations, community leaders, and innovators making a difference throughout Eastern Connecticut.
Being selected for this honor is a meaningful milestone for Ace Overhead Doors. It reflects the dedication of the entire team and the trust that customers and community partners have placed in the company over the years.
The recognition also demonstrates the important role small businesses play in the region. Locally owned companies create employment opportunities, support other organizations, build lasting relationships, and provide the responsive service that helps communities thrive.
Looking Ahead to the Next Chapter
Although the 2026 Small Business of the Year award provides an opportunity to celebrate how far the company has come, Ace Overhead Doors continues looking toward the future. Its growing team remains focused on delivering reliable overhead door solutions while maintaining the personal service and community connections that shaped the business from the beginning.
Congratulations to Tom, Amanda, and the entire Ace Overhead Doors team on this well-deserved achievement. Being named the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut’s 2026 Small Business of the Year is an outstanding accomplishment and an exciting new chapter in the company’s continuing story.
To learn more about the company, its history, and its residential and commercial services, visit Ace Overhead Doors.
