John W. Ball, vice president of corporate sales and marketing for ASCC Inc. of Cranberry, created the winning video entry in a National Association of Convenience Stores contest conducted on YouTube. The ASCC entry busted the myth that you cannot use a cell phone inside a convenience store car wash by sending Mr. Ball through the car wash with his windows down and sunroof open.

An arbitrator who was called in to help settle the dispute between Johnston America Corp. and members of Local 2635 of the United Steelworkers union ruled in the workers' favor. Claire McDermott ruled that the company, which had laid off 225 workers, should recall them and give each of them up to a year's salary, which they had lost.

Koppers Holdings said higher prices and strong demand for its carbon materials and chemicals pushed first-quarter sales up by 13 percent to $348 million, from $309 million a year ago. Net income jumped to $13.2 million, or 63 cents per share, beating analysts' estimates of $11.6 million, or 54 cents per share. Net income for the year-ago first quarter was $10.5 million, or 50 cents per share. The company said Robert Cizik, the nonexecutive chairman of the board, is retiring and would be replaced by David Hillenbrand, chief executive officer of Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh, and previously an executive vice president at Bayer Polymers.

Consolidated Communications Holdings Inc. reported first-quarter net income of $3.7 million, or 13 cents per diluted share, on revenue of $105.4 million, vs. $4.6 million, or 18 cents, on revenue of $83 million a year ago. Excluding items, the company posted earnings per share of 16 cents, in line with analysts' estimates. Consolidated Communications acquired North Pittsburgh Systems in December for $375.1 million.

General Nutrition Centers Inc. posted a $13.3 million profit in the first quarter vs. the year-ago quarter when acquisition-related costs produced a $50.5 million loss. The Pittsburgh vitamin retailer's total revenue for the three months ended March 31 rose 9.2 percent to $428.1 million. Sales in U.S. corporate stores open at least a year rose 2.2 percent, a number that includes online sales. GNC was acquired in March 2007 by private equity investors.

TreeHouse Foods Inc. reported a 39.2 percent increase in first-quarter sales. Excluding the impact of acquisitions, sales would have risen 4.7 percent. The growing Westchester, Ill., company, whose operations include baby food and private label soup production at the former Heinz plant on the North Side, reported net income of $2.1 million, or 7 cents per share, vs. $7.4 million, or 24 cents, last year. Excluding one-time charges involved in closing an Oregon pickle plant and certain debt issues, earnings would have been 34 cents per share. The company has used price increases to offset rising commodity costs. Sales of branded baby food slipped.

Superior Well Services Inc. posted first-quarter net income of $2.4 million, or 10 cents per diluted share, vs. $9 million, or 39 cents, a year ago. Revenue rose to $93.4 million from $76.7 million last year. The Indiana, Pa.-based company provides surveying and pumping services for oil and natural gas companies.

Dick's Sporting Goods Chairman and Chief Executive officer Edward W. Stack received almost $53 million by exercising stock options last year, according to a proxy statement filed in connection with the Findlay retailer's shareholders meeting set for June 4 at the Airport Hyatt Regency. In addition, Mr. Stack collected $3.81 million in salary, nonequity incentives and other compensation, not including option awards.

St. Louis-based engineering company Emerson has named William R. Johnson, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Pittsburgh-based H.J. Heinz Co., to its board of directors. He will serve on its compensation committee ... FedFirst Financial Corp., Monessen, said it completed the repurchase of 147,500 shares at an average price of $8.48 per share. The company had 6.48 million shares outstanding as of Dec. 31 ... Matthews International Corp. said it completed the purchase of an 78 percent stake in Saueressig GmbH & Co. KG, a German-based provider of prepress services and gravure printing forms, for about $110 million.