Susan Collet works for Toyota Motor Engineering and Manufacturing North America in Toyota Research Institute North America division in Ann Arbor, MI, developing corporate strategy for frontier research.  Previously, at Toyota in the Materials Engineering Department, Susan engineered the removal of Substances of Concerns and lowered Volatile Organic Compound emissions. Before that, she was a Manager for in the Environmental Engineering Department. In this position, Susan developed corporate strategy for issues related to federal vehicle emissions regulations. Prior to joining Toyota in 1995, Susan was Technical Compliance Manager for Mitsubishi Motor Sales of America, working on safety and emissions compliance. She also was Senior Engineer of Product Development for Subaru of America developing accessories.

Susan is a graduate of Lawrence Technological University, Southfield, Michigan, with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering. She earned a Masters in Business Administration from Pepperdine University, Malibu, California. Susan became the SAE Detroit Section Chairman in January, 2010.  Previously, she was the Vice Chair for Operations, Assistant Vice Chairman for the K-12 committee, Director of Membership, Toyota Section Meeting Representative, and a Student Exhibit Competition judge. She received the Nobel R. Patterson distinguished Section Member award in 2005. For SAE International, Susan was the Chair of the Membership Services Board (MSB). She has been a MSB Member at large and Chair of Company Reps Committee. 

Technically, Susan chaired a Government Industry Session, made a Tier 2 presentation at another Government Industry meeting, and authored and presented a SAE paper, participated on the SAE committee that made the Hybrid Emission Test Standard, and participated on the committee that requested SAE to develop the SAE Environmental Award. Susan resides in Ann Arbor with her husband Gordon. She has 2 children- Whitney Field, who is a student at Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Lansing, and Sterling Field who is a student at Ohio State University. In her spare time she enjoys dancing, swimming and watching football games.