CJ Stewart | Chief Visionary Officer
C.J. Stewart is an Atlanta native, former Chicago Cubs outfielder, and Amazon #1 Best Selling Author of Living To L.E.A.D.: A Story of Passion, Purpose, and Grit. Recognized as one of the nation’s leading baseball player development professionals, he is the founder and owner of Diamond Directors, a player development company renowned for developing elite baseball talent. During nearly 30 years of coaching, Stewart has worked with an impressive roster of athletes, including Jason Heyward (former Atlanta Brave and World Series Champion with the Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers), Dexter Fowler (World Series Champion with the Chicago Cubs), Andruw Jones (Atlanta Braves legend and National Baseball Hall of Fame inductee), Pete Alonso (New York Mets), Kyle Lewis, and Andrew McCutchen.
Growing up in Hollywood Brooks, one of Atlanta’s most dangerous apartment communities, Stewart’s life reflects his belief that “where you start does not determine where you finish.” Despite daunting odds, he used baseball as his pathway out of poverty, supported by a community that believed in his potential. His journey began at John A. White Park and ultimately led to being drafted by the Chicago Cubs in both 1994 and 1996.
Together with his wife, Kelli Stewart, CEO of L.E.A.D. Center For Youth, Stewart extends his impact through the nonprofit they founded to advance equity and well being through sports based youth development. Based in Atlanta, L.E.A.D. uses baseball for boys and tennis for girls to help young people become Major League players and Major League citizens. The organization has achieved remarkable outcomes, including a 100% high school graduation rate, a 93% college enrollment rate, 90% of participants earning college scholarships, and 14% entering the military or workforce.
Stewart holds certificates in Systems Thinking and Wellness Counseling from Cornell University, a certificate from the Harvard Business School Upswell Social Enterprise Program, and a certificate in Sports Philanthropy from George Washington University. He is also a graduate of the Atlanta Regional Commission Regional Leadership Institute (Class of 2025). In 2025, he and Kelli were honored by the Grove Park Foundation with the Grove Park Hero Education Award for their commitment to youth and community development.
A member of the Rotary Club of Atlanta West End since June 25, 2009, Stewart is a Leadership Atlanta alumnus (Class of 2015) and, alongside Kelli, a Leadership Georgia alumnus (Class of 2023).
A member of the Rotary Club of Atlanta West End since June 25, 2009, Stewart is a Leadership Atlanta alumnus (Class of 2015) and, alongside Kelli, a Leadership Georgia alumnus (Class of 2023).
Today, Stewart continues to invest his life in developing Major League players, Major League citizens, and stronger communities, demonstrating that success is most meaningful when it is used to serve others.
Kelli Stewart, CEO
Kelli Stewart was born in Atlanta and raised most of her life in Oglethorpe County, a rural community just outside of Athens, Georgia. Although both parents were not a consistent fixture in her life, Kelli’s Grandmother, Ms. Amy Lou Faust, provided a stable and nurturing home environment where she raised Kelli to have an old soul that has served her well in life.
Kelli is a graduate from Cedar Shoals High School in Athens, GA and credits her participation in ROTC as keeping her on the mostly straight and mostly narrow. Through the watchful care and guidance of her ROTC Instructor, Sgt. Fincher along with Ms. Sue Lee (English Teacher) and Shirley Daniel (Guidance Counselor) Kelli graduated from Cedar Shoals in 1996 and went on to study at Georgia State University.
She completed her undergraduate studies at Kennesaw State University in 2011 where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree from the Coles College of Business with honors. In addition to her degree, Kelli holds a wealth of knowledge regarding sports-based youth development as a resource for racial, social and economic justice and the impact sports have on the social-emotional development of youth.
Today, Kelli, and her husband, C.J. Stewart, oversee two business ventures that they started together. Through Diamond Directors, they train and develop some of the country’s top amateur and professional baseball athletes; Jason Heyward (Los Angeles Dodgers), Dexter Fowler (Chicago Cubs, World Series Champion), Andruw Jones (former Atlanta Brave), Peter Alonso (NY Mets), Kyle Lewis (Arizona Diamondbacks), and Andrew McCutchen (Pittsburgh Pirates) are a few notable professional clients. Through L.E.A.D., they train and develop some of Atlanta’s hidden treasures in Atlanta Public Schools. L.E.A.D. provides inner city boys with the same opportunities to excel in life through baseball as the Stewarts’ Diamond Directors clients with the focus being accessing higher education and community leadership. To date, L.E.A.D. Ambassadors have achieved a 100% high school graduation rate and a 91% college enrollment and scholarship rate (academic and athletic).
Kelli and CJ have two beautiful daughters, Mackenzi (Director of Tennis, L.E.A.D. Center For Youth) and Mackenna (student-athlete/Alabama A&M University).
