Michael Sweers, of Dansville, was elected Oct. 4 to a three-year term as a trustee of the Michigan 4-H Foundation.

The Michigan 4-H Foundation is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization that supports the mission and vision of Michigan State University (MSU) Extension 4-H Youth Development statewide. The foundation receives donations from individuals and organizations to support 4-H youth development activities and to train Michigan’s adult and older teen 4-H volunteers.

Michael Sweers

Sweers served as a 4-H volunteer in Ingham County, where he was the dairy superintendent alongside his wife, Jan, for 12 years. They raised three daughters, who all participated in 4-H from ages 5 to 19, and he was leader of the Dansville 4Leaf Clovers 4-H Club throughout those years. In addition to dairy, Sweers also assisted in the goat and rabbit project areas.

Sweers is the executive chief engineer for the Toyota Tundra, Sequoia, Tacoma and 4Runner vehicle programs at Toyota Motor North America, Research and Development (TMNA R&D), headquartered in York Township, Michigan. Sweers also serves as executive vice president at the global parent company, Toyota Motor Corporation. Since joining Toyota in 1990, Sweers has held several leadership roles of increasing responsibility at Toyota Technical Center and TMNA R&D. Before joining Toyota, Sweers served as a project engineer with Chrysler Corporation from 1986 to 1990. He started his career at General Motors Oldsmobile Division, later becoming BOC J/N Platform. Sweers received a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Detroit. He followed this with a specialty in Quality Control Management, from which he graduated magna cum laude with an associate of applied science degree from Lansing Community College. He has received U.S. patents for automotive seating and interior trim components. He is a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers and is a senior member of the Society of Plastics Engineers.

Michigan 4-H Foundation trustees are volunteers who oversee foundation operations and are community advocates for ongoing and increasing support for 4-H. They are charged with overseeing the activities of foundation staff members and working on committees developed to facilitate foundation operations.

The Michigan 4-H Foundation owns and operates Kettunen Center, the state’s 4-H leadership training and conference center in Tustin, Mich. It also generates private support to operate and maintain the Michigan 4-H Children’s Gardens at Michigan State University.

The Michigan 4-H Foundation is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization that supports Michigan 4-H Youth Development. For more information about the Michigan 4-H Foundation, visit www.mi4hfdtn.org. Michigan 4-H Youth Development is the youth-serving program of Michigan State University Extension. More than 209,000 youth are involved in 4-H with the support of 16,000 adult volunteers. For more information about Michigan 4-H, visit www.canr.msu.edu/4h.