Meade Johnson to lead ad group

Meade Johnson, of Ross-based Limited Chaos Marketing, has been elected president of the Pittsburgh Advertising Federation, an industry organization. Adam Golomb, director of marketing for Eat'n Park Hospitality Group, has been in that role for the past two years.

Woman activist joins USW board

Carol Landry, a union activist who joined the United Steelworkers union in 1987 at a Canadian copper mine, has become the first woman member of the union's International Executive Board. Ms. Landry joins the board as international vice president. Ms. Landry has held a number of positions in the USW local at Highland Valley Copper in British Columbia: shop steward, treasurer, vice president and president. Appointed to the USW's Canadian staff in 1999, Ms. Landry has been an instructor for the union for more than 16 years and has served as education coordinator for the USW's District 3 in Western Canada.

Convicted swindler surrenders to police

A hedge fund swindler who set off a national manhunt when he faked his suicide to avoid reporting to prison surrendered yesterday to small-town police in Massachusetts. Samuel Israel III, 48, walked into the police station in Southwick, Mass., at about 9:15 a.m. wearing a colored T-shirt and shorts, identified himself and said he was a fugitive wanted by the federal government, officials said. Mr. Israel later appeared in federal court for a brief hearing in Springfield, Mass., where a judge ordered him sent back to New York. Mr. Israel faces a 20-year prison term for conspiracy and fraud.

Heinz to acquire French sauce maker

H.J. Heinz Co. plans to buy a French maker of sauces, mayonnaise and salad dresses for an undisclosed amount, subject to regulatory approval. Benedicta, with about $90 million in annual sales, has been around for decades and first introduced a tabletop mayonnaise in France in 1957. Heinz reported more than $10 billion in sales in the fiscal year ended April 30.

Also in business ...

The Regional Industrial Development Corp. of Southwestern Pennsylvania will receive a state loan of $1.64 million to continue development of the City Center of Duquesne. The $4.1 million project includes the construction of a 20,000-square-foot building and is expected to create 25 jobs ... Hibbett Sports, a sporting goods chain based in Birmingham, Ala., is looking to come into Pennsylvania with 5,000-square-foot sites in small to midsize markets.