Call center for Uniontown
A Lancaster-based direct marketing firm is expanding operations into Fayette County with a division that will create 168 jobs within three years. Vision Marketing Services received a state financial package valued at $344,000 to create a 72-seat call center in the Laurel Mall in Uniontown. The total cost of the expansion is $620,000. Vision Marketing has 305 employees at locations in Lancaster and Johnstown.

Expenses a drag on Del Monte
Del Monte Foods Co. reported a 10 percent drop in net income for the fiscal third quarter as expenses cut into gains from the pet products division. The San Francisco company with operations in Pittsburgh said net income was $46.5 million, or 23 cents per share, in the three months ended Jan. 28, vs. $51.9 million, or 26 cents, a year ago. In continuing operations, earnings per share would have been 22 cents, matching analysts' projections. Net sales rose 14.9 percent to $907.2 million, driven by the acquisitions last year of Meow Mix and Milk-Bones. Fruit sales suffered because of weather conditions that hurt last year's crop. The company blamed a dip in its StarKist tuna business on higher fish prices and a lack of new products.

Building supplier to the core
The man who last week resigned his position as chief operating officer of 84 Lumber Co., one of the nation's largest building suppliers, has been named senior vice president of strategic initiatives of Denver-based Pro-Build Holdings Inc., the nation's largest professional building materials supplier. William J. Myrick began as a manager trainee for 84 Lumber in 1982. Pro-Build has grown by acquisition and operates under names such as United Building Centers, Hope Lumber and Supply, and Strober Building Supply. When 84 Lumber announced Mr. Myrick's departure to "pursue other opportunities," it unveiled management shifts that would eliminate the COO position.

Phila. gets China air nod
US Airways will fly between Philadelphia and Shanghai if it wins U.S. government approval for China service. The flight would be the first into China for the airline. Philadelphia is US Airways' main airport for international flights and has the company's second-most daily departures, with 425. If it gains approval, US Airways would begin the flights in 2008.

Thrifty franchises sold
The Thrifty Car Rental franchise serving Pittsburgh International Airport has been acquired by corporate parent Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group Inc. Franchisee Robert P. Gardill II sold that franchise as well as others serving Erie, Harrisburg and Allentown for an undisclosed amount. The Tulsa, Okla., holding company also owns the Dollar Rent A Car location in Pittsburgh. A spokesman said the company has been strategically buying larger market operations for the past few years. He said customers will not see significant changes.

Atlas Energy posts profit
In its first earnings report as a public company, Atlas Energy Resources LLC reported net income of $21.6 million for the quarter ended Dec. 31, vs. $13.8 million in the year-ago period. Revenues for the Moon-based company totaled $94 million vs. $73.1 million a year earlier. Atlas Energy went public on Dec. 18, selling 7.3 million common units, which constituted about 20 percent of its ownership.

Alcoa closing Kentucky plant

Alcoa will close its Rey-nolds Food Packaging plant in Mount Vernon, Ky., by midyear as part of an ongoing restructuring announced in the fourth quarter. The plant employs 115 and produces plastic trays and containers used primarily in the bakery, deli and food service markets.

Also in business ...
Reed Smith finalized its merger with Chicago law firm Sachnoff & Weaver. Pittsburgh-based Reed Smith now has 1,500 lawyers in 21 offices worldwide ... Oakland-based Wizzard Media said it completed the acquisition of podcast hosting company Liberated Syndication (also known as Libsyn). Terms of the buyout were not disclosed ... Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel said it would raise prices by $50 per ton effective April 1, citing strong demand for sheet steel ... Allin Corp. of Green Tree reported fourth-quarter net income of $336,000, or 3 cents per diluted share, on revenue of $4 million, vs. a net loss of $979,000, or 13 cents, on revenue of $3.7 million a year ago. The company posted record net income of $599,000, or 6 cents per diluted share, in 2006. Results for the full year include an income tax benefit of $990,000.

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