40+ Years of Dedication, Faith, and Family at Sunoptic Technologies®

Illuminating the surgical site starts long before the OR. At our Jacksonville, Florida headquarters, Sunoptic’s engineers, product developers, and manufacturing teams research, design, test, and build surgical light sources trusted around the world. Few people embody that commitment more than Shirley Oliver, who has dedicated over four decades to our mission.

From CUDA Fiberoptic to Sunoptic Technologies

Shirley joined the company in its early years, back when it was still known as CUDA Fiberoptics®, founded in 1978. Her start was nothing short of remarkable – she interviewed on a Friday, began work that Saturday, and received her first paycheck on Monday.

Over the years, she’s seen the company evolve from a small fiberoptics shop into a global leader in high end surgical light sources, playing an integral role in every stage of that journey. From early light cables to today’s custom fiberoptic assemblies, Shirley’s craftsmanship has helped define Sunoptic’s reputation for quality and reliability.

A Passion for High Quality

For Shirley, every Sunoptic product tells a story of precision and pride. Whether it’s building our milestone S8-36 cable or tackling the tricky 90-degree assemblies that test her patience, she approaches every task with the same determination.

“I’ll never let a cable defeat me,” says Shirley.

Her attention to detail ensures every surgical light source leaving our Jacksonville facility meets the highest performance standards surgeons depend on worldwide.

Loyalty Built on Leadership

When asked what’s kept her motivated for more than 40 years, Shirley’s answer is simple – the owner.

“He’s been there when life gets tough,” she said. “He’s generous and truly cares about his employees.”

That genuine leadership, paired with Sunoptic’s family-first culture, is what has inspired her unwavering loyalty and gratitude throughout the decades.

Mentorship & Legacy

One of Shirley’s greatest contributions is her willingness to share knowledge. She’s trained team members across departments and generations, passing down the consistency and craftsmanship that have kept Sunoptic’s standards strong for decades. Her motto in life and work alike is clear – do your best and care deeply.

A Family Beyond Work

To Shirley, her coworkers aren’t just colleagues – they’re family.

“Loving and caring,” she said when describing the Sunoptic culture.

She enjoys the camaraderie and teamwork that define the production floor, where everyone supports each other and takes pride in a shared purpose: creating light that helps save lives.

Life Outside the Factory

When she’s not at work, Shirley devotes her time to volunteering at church and helping the homeless and sick in her community. Her guiding influence has always been her faith.

“God has been the biggest influence in my life,” she said.

Her weekends are spent relaxing at home, watching her favorite shows – “Walker, Texas Ranger” and “Touched by an Angel” – and cooking her comfort food of choice: spaghetti. Music is another joy in her life – Patti LaBelle is her favorite artist.

Wisdom & Inspiration

Shirley’s advice to new Sunoptic employees is timeless.

“Learn everything you can. It will make you valuable to the company and help you understand how to serve it best.”

If she could switch jobs for a day, Shirley says she’d choose Sara’s role as Director of HR, because helping people is where her heart truly lies. And when asked what her superpower is, she answers confidently:

“My God, my character, and my caring.”

A Legacy of Care

From her first day on the job to her four-decade career of craftmanship and compassion, Shirley Oliver has illuminated far more than surgical sites – she’s lit the way for generations of Sunoptic employees.

Her story is one of faith, family, and dedication – proof that behind every bright light we build, there’s an even brighter soul making it shine.

About Sunoptic Technologies®

Founded in 1978 and proudly based in Jacksonville, Florida, Sunoptic is one of the only surgical

headlight companies that researches and designs all products in the United States. Our premium

line of LED and Xenon surgical light sources, surgical headlights, HD/4K camera systems, custom fiberoptic assemblies, xenon lamps, and more are engineered for clarity, comfort, and confidence in the OR.

Interested in the people behind the products? Stay tuned for more employee spotlights or contact us today to learn how our team can support your surgical lighting and visualization needs.