After returning home from Vietnam, Sweeney worked at
United Parcel Service as a driver. After that, he went on to a factory job where he became fascinated with the process, and decided to pursue higher education. Sweeney completed his education with an MBA from Fairleigh Dickinson University in 1986 and continued to work in manufacturing. He joined
Keurig full-time in 1996 as its Vice President of Engineering. ==Award recognitions==