Business briefs.

• Position: BUSINESS

COLUMN: BUSINESS BRIEFS TELEGRAM & GAZETTE Bloomberg Index Central Massachusetts +0.28 137.78 Volume: 33,451,426 Up: 13 Down: 8 Unchanged: 8 Gainer: Arrhythmia Research Techinology Inc. $25.90 +$1.81 Declilner: Sepracor Inc. $50.47 -$1.22 People Russia trip WORCESTER - C.J. Pederson, president of the Better Business Bureau of Central New England Inc., will accompany officials of the International Center of Worcester on a U.S. State Department-sponsored trip to Russia Sept. 24 to Oct. 11. He will make presentations at two conferences and meetings of Russian business people and local government officials on the subject of business self-regulation. Energy award WESTBORO - Stephen L. Cowell, chairman and chief executive officer of Conservation Services Group, has been named one of five recipients of the Champion of Energy Award by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy The award honors leadership and accomplishment in the energy efficiency field. Conservation Services Group is a nonprofit that provides energy saving strategies, products, services and technologies to consumers and businesses nationwide. Local Exports steady BOSTON - The Massachusetts Export Competitiveness Indicator held steady at $2.75 million in July, the Alliance for the Commonwealth said yesterday. The indicator compares the state's export performance to a national benchmark showing that Massachusetts companies exported $2.75 million more than they would have sold had they increased sales at the same rate as their national counterparts. Actual exports for July, released last week...