Consumer Affairs & Relations

DENVER -- Fast food hamburger chain Smashburger plans to more than double its nationwide store count to about 500 in the next few years. The chain currently runs about 200 locations across the US.

According to public comments from Smashburger chariman and CEO Dave Prokupek, the chain may also launch a US IPO at some point in the future. “The idea of good food fast isn’t going to go away anytime soon,” said Prokupek.

SAN DIEGO — Walmart, Sam’s Club and Operation Homefront kicked off their nationwide series Saluting Heroes Together with a community-wide military appreciation event in San Diego on Armed Forces Day, Saturday, May 18. 

The event was the first in a series of tributes the organizations are hosting across the country to honor men and women who have or are currently serving, as well as their families.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Bruce G. Bodaken, former chairman, president and CEO of Blue Shield California, been named to the Rite Aid Corporation board of directors. Bodaken, 61, served with Blue Shield for 18 years, including 12 in his most recent role, and currently serves as director and audit committee chairman of WageWorks, Inc. He is also a member of the Institute of Medicine’s Roundtable on Value & Science-Driven Health Care.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid announced the election of former Blue Shield of California president, chairman and CEO Bruce Bodaken to its board of directors. 

Dallas -- Kathleen Mason, former CEO of Tuesday Morning, has filed a lawsuit against her ex-employer in Dallas District Court claiming discrimination. Mason, who was fired last June, alleges that Tuesday Morning mistreated and then terminated her within months after learning she was suffering from breast cancer.

PLANO, Texas — J.C. Penney reported a deeper-than-expected loss of $348 million for its first quarter, compared to $163 million in the year-ago period, amid a 16.4% decline in revenue. The results came as the company seeks to undo the damage caused by former CEO Ron Johnson’s costly and largely failed makeover.

Plano, Texas -- J.C. Penney Co. reported a deeper-than-expected loss of $348 million for its first quarter, compared to $163 million in the year-ago period, amid a 16.4% decline in revenue. The results came as the company seeks to undo the damage caused by former CEO Ron Johnson’s costly and largely failed makeover.

RACINE, Wis. — Fisk Johnson, SC Johnson's chairman and CEO, has been named "Friend of the Library" by the Racine Public Library. Johnson received the award for sponsoring the Racine Reads: Dream Big! program during the 2011-2012 school year. 

The program challenged 10,000 local elementary school students to read 1 million books during the school year — an average of 100 books per child. Students rose to the challenge, by more than quadrupling the national average, by reading 180 books per student and 1.8 million books in total.