Ultra1Plus™ CEO Carmine Colarusso Named Manufacturer of the Year as FIU Graduate Student Project Earns Top Honors at Florida SBDC at FIU Awards
Dual recognition highlights South Florida manufacturing excellence, innovation, and the impact of business-university collaboration
MIAMI, FL - May 2026 - Ultra1Plus™, a Miami-based manufacturer and distributor of automotive, heavy-duty, industrial, marine, agricultural, and specialty fluids, proudly announces two major recognitions received during the Florida Small Business Development Center at Florida International University's annual Business At Its Best Awards Ceremony, held during National Small Business Week in Miami, Florida.
Carmine Colarusso, Owner and CEO of Ultra1Plus™, was named Manufacturer of the Year, recognizing his leadership and Ultra1Plus's commitment to U.S. manufacturing, quality, operational excellence, innovation, and continued growth in the automotive and industrial fluids industry.
In addition, a graduate student consulting project developed in partnership with Ultra1Plus™ was recognized as FIU Graduate Student Project of the Year. The project focused on applying business intelligence, analytics, and AI-driven strategy to real-world business challenges, helping strengthen visibility, decision-making, and operational performance.
Together, the two awards tell a broader stoy: Ultra1Plus™ is not only building products, it is helping build the future of manufacturing through innovation, education, technology, and collaboration. "Manufacturing is not easy," said Carmine Colarusso, Owner and CEO of Ultra1Plus™. "It takes discipline, sacrifice, resilience, and a team that believes in building something bigger than themselves. Being recognized as Manufacturer of the Year is a tremendous honor, but what makes this moment even more meaningful is seeing FIU students bring their intelligence, energy, and technology mindset into our business. That is where the future is being built."
The Florida SBDC at FIU plays an important role in South Florida's entrepreneurial ecosystem. As part of the Florida SBDC Network and operating through Florida International University's College of Business, the center supports entrepreneurs and small business owners through consulting, training, strategic planning, access-to-capital guidance, marketing support, operational assistance, and student-led consulting programs.
The annual Business At Its Best Awards celebrate entrepreneurs, small business owners, and community partners whose leadership, resilience, innovation, and growth strengthen Miami-Dade and Monroe counties. The ceremony brings together business leaders, advisors, students, public partners, and community stakeholders to recognize companies helping move South Florida's economy forward.
For Ultra1Plus, the Manufacturer of the Year award validates years of work building a trusted brand in the lubricants and specialty fluids market. The company offers a broad portfolio of products, including motor oils, hydraulic fluids, gear oils, transmission fluids, greases, antifreeze/coolants, Diesel Exhaust Fluid, windshield washer fluids, and other automotive and industrial solutions.
Serving both domestic and international markets, Ultra1Plus continues to expand its manufacturing, distribution, e-commerce, and export presence while remaining committed to quality, service, technical expertise, and Made-in-USA excellence. The FIU Graduate Student Project of the Year recognition adds another important layer to the company's story. It reflects Ultra1Plus' belief that strong businesses are built not only through products and sales, but also through knowledge, innovation, mentorship, data, and the courage to keep evolving.
"This is why our relationship with FIU and the SBDC at FIU is so important," Colarusso added. "They are not just supporting businesses from the outside. They are helping entrepreneurs think better, see better, and build stronger companies. When students, advisors, and business owners work together on real challenges, the result is not theory, it is transformation."
The dual recognition reinforces Ultra1Plus's position as a growing force in South Florida manufacturing and as a company committed to combining traditional manufacturing discipline with modern business intelligence, technology, and human development.
"This award is not the finish line," said Colarusso. "It is a reminder that the path we chose, hard, demanding, and full of responsibility, is the right one. We are proud to manufacture, proud to innovate, and proud to represent South Florida."
About Ultra1Plus™
Ultra1Plus™ is a high-performance automotive, heavy-duty, industrial, marine, agricultural, and specialty fluids brand serving customers across the United States and international markets. The company offers a wide range of products, including lubricants, motor oils, hydraulic fluids, gear oils, transmission fluids, greases, antifreeze/coolants, Diesel Exhaust Fluid, windshield washer fluids, and related automotive and industrial
solutions. Ultra1Plus serves distributors, fleets, retailers, workshops, industrial users, agricultural operators, marine customers, e-commerce consumers, and international partners. The company is committed to quality, innovation, service, technical expertise, and Made-in-USA manufacturing excellence.
About the Florida SBDC at FIU
The Florida Small Business Development Center at FIU is part of the Florida SBDC Network and operates through Florida International University's College of Business. The center supports entrepreneurs and small business owners through confidential consulting, business training, strategic planning, access-to-capital guidance, market research, operational support, and student-led consulting programs. The Florida SBDC at
FIU serves businesses throughout Miami-Dade and Monroe counties and plays an important role in strengthening South Florida's small business and entrepreneurial ecosystem.
