The Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce has announced that Stephen M. Coan, the president and CEO of Mystic Aquarium, and Stefan Ambrosch, the owner of Deviant Donuts and Mango’s Wood-Fired Pizza Co. in Olde Mistick Village, are the 2020 recipients of its Joyce Olson Resnikoff Award for Tourism.

The award was created to recognize business owners and individuals who support, grow and nurture southeastern Connecticut’s tourism economy. The chambers said in its announcement that during the COVID-19 pandemic, Olde Mistick Village and Mystic Aquarium worked to support local businesses and create new opportunities for families and the community.

“This year we are recognizing two extraordinary people with the award. Stephen Coan and Stefan Ambrosch both set an example of the power tourism has to attract people and encourage business,” said Resnikoff, the founder of Olde Mystic Village.

“Southeastern Connecticut tourism has been through difficult times in the past, but no one could have prepared for the blindside brought on by COVID-19. Both of the award winners have shown true leadership and ingenuity in navigating through this,” added Bruce Flax, the chairman of the chamber’s board of directors.

Flax said Coan recognized the Aquarium’s situation was unsustainable and a financial restructuring was necessary to survive the pandemic, and worked with the state to stabilize its finances and remain open while Ambrosch “adjusted his business and created a demand for Deviant Donuts and an appetite for Mango's Pizza that maintains Mystic as a tourist and foodie destination, even through the pandemic.”