GREEN BAY, Wis.—Shopko Optical, in a move that reflects its ongoing effort to build out its leadership team, has named Susan Buckna as general counsel. Buckna joins the Shopko Optical team with almost 30 years of legal expertise in corporate legal and regulatory matters, including health care operations, employment, information technology, intellectual property and corporate governance, according to the company’s announcement. “I am thrilled Susan has chosen to join the Shopko Optical team,” chief executive officer Russ Steinhorst said. “With experience in both the retail and health care sectors, she is a steadfast business and legal partner who will be instrumental in supporting and advocating for the company’s growth.”

Prior to joining Shopko Optical, Buckna served as vice president, associate general counsel and senior corporate counsel with Shopko Stores. In that position, she oversaw retail health care compliance, contract negotiations, employment and intellectual matters, and fair-trade practices regarding advertising, unfair competition, and fair dealership law.

Buckna received her Juris Doctor degree from Marquette University Law School.

Shopko Optical, the trade name of Shoptikal LLC, was formed in 2019 when an affiliate of the private investment firm Monarch Alternative Capital LP, acquired the optical operations out of the bankruptcy court proceedings of the former parent company, Shopko Stores, as VMAIL reported. 

Subsequently, Shopko Optical opened 80 freestanding optical centers over a 180-day period in late 2019, and the company plans to open an additional 35 optical centers in 2020, according to its recent announcement.