About Our Founder.
C.J. Stewart is a product of Atlanta, GA. Life started out for the Stewart family in Hollywood Courts, a housing project in the inner city. While the family was able to eventually move out of this environment, time spent there watching his family struggle to meet their goals taught C.J. valuable lessons about the power of hard work and sacrifices. As a young man he used these lessons to become a stellar student athlete, eventually graduating with honors from Westlake Magnet High School in Atlanta, GA in 1994. Following high school, C.J. was drafted by the Chicago Cubs. While this was an exciting time, C.J.’s family selected the collegiate route to allow him to develop more as a person and player before signing a professional contract. This decision resulted in him playing at both Georgia State University and DeKalb Junior College prior to being drafted again by the Chicago Cubs in 1996.
After having the opportunity to learn and play for some of the game’s finest, Sandy Alomar, Sr., Jimmy Piersall and Gary “The Sarge” Matthews, C.J. began to chart his course in the baseball industry as a full time professional hitting instructor in Marietta, GA. In 2000, he added the title of professional scout to his resume when he accepted an opportunity with the Cincinnati Reds organization in an effort to open doors for young African American baseball players. CJ.’s pledge became, “If baseball is in fact a political game, I want to be in a position to make and influence decisions.”
In 2002, C.J. expanded his training business by adding Diamond Directors Consulting, which offers private baseball skill development and advice for amateur athletes and their families. After years of developing raw talent to skillful talent that could compete at the professional level, Diamond Directors added a sports management group to the company which offers representation to amateur and professional athletes. Over time, CJ Stewart has become known as one of the industry’s best skill developers and most trusted advisor/agent to amateur and professional players. Nevertheless, he felt compelled to do more. “My favorite quote has always been words spoken by Atlanta’s greatest figure, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., ‘Everybody can be great, because everybody can serve’ and that’s exactly what I knew I had to do.”
With the love and support of his wife, Kelli, and two daughters, Mackenzi and Mackenna, C.J. was able to answer a personal call to form L.E.A.D. Inc. (Launch, Expose, Advise, Direct). Through L.E.A.D., the dreams of urban youth will have a chance to flourish and thrive.
