Our Team

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Jimmy Stewart

Executive Director

Jimmy Stewart is an accomplished executive and entrepreneur with deep expertise in workforce development, construction, and diversity & inclusion initiatives. He currently serves as the Executive Director of Project JumpStart, Inc., a newly registered 501(c)(3) organization and a renowned workforce development program in Baltimore. In this role, Jimmy leads large-scale programs that provide intensive job-readiness training and career placement for city residents. Under his leadership, Project JumpStart has expanded its reach, improved operational efficiency, increased staffing, and continues to strengthen the financial sustainability of the new non-profit following its spin-off from another organization.

Yvette Diamond

Chief Operations Officer

With 35+ years in leadership and consulting, Yvette Diamond empowers workforce leaders to drive impactful change. A longtime friend and advisor at Project JumpStart, Yvette brings her experience and skills to help PJSI meet its growth initiatives. As Executive Director of the Maryland Apprenticeship Connector (MAC), she promoted apprenticeships as critical pathways for Maryland’s workforce. In 2021, she led the Greater Baltimore Committee’s initiative to connect 350+ regional stakeholders, building sustainable strategies for industries like healthcare and tech.
Her career includes roles as COO of a logistics firm, VP in publishing, and founder of a health and beauty company, giving her unique insights into employer challenges. A recognized thought leader, she served on multiple boards and advocates for inclusive workforce solutions.
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Cierra Jackson

Program Assistant

Cierra Jackson has a great love for helping her community and sharing her knowledge through experiences she faced, throughout the success and growth within her career. Working in the workforce world for over 8 years has helped her to understand and hear the need for the community.
Starting at Project JumpStart Inc. has allowed her to help and provide assistants to the program working closely with program participants obtain sustainable employment. Guiding participants through training while knocking out barriers. Applying her project management/assistant background in all aspects of her career has helped others become successful.

Emma Shirey

Employment Program Manager

Jordan Morris serves as the Employment Services Manager at Project JumpStart, where he leads efforts to connect program graduates with meaningful careers in the skilled trades. In this role, Jordan oversees job placement services and employer outreach — ensuring that participants not only complete training, but successfully transition into stable employment. He works closely with employers to match job-ready, vetted candidates to openings, helping bridge workforce needs with opportunity. Jordan is committed to supporting individuals — often those facing barriers to employment — by offering guidance, resources, and encouragement to build long-term careers. Through his leadership, Project JumpStart continues to deliver on its mission of “real construction training that leads to real opportunity,” empowering graduates to succeed in the construction industry.
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Our Instructors

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Bill Plantholt

PJSI Lead Instructor

Master Trainer for NCCER (National Center for Construction Education & Research); certified to teach in Maryland through MSDE (Maryland State Department of Education); current teacher for Baltimore County School System and Master Electrician.

Dave Tate

PJSI Class Lead Instructor

Certified to teach in Maryland through MSDE (Maryland State Department of Education), current teacher for Baltimore County School System.
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Antoine Boykins

PJSI Instructor

Certified to teacher First Aid/CPR; Supervisor at Scaffold Resources, LLC with over 8 years of experience; Project JumpStart graduate.

Steve Holloway

PJSI Instructor

Certified NCCER Instructor; was also a MSDE certified teacher with Baltimore City Schools (Mervo) for 30+ years before recently retiring.
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Richard Dixon

PJSI Instructor

30+ years of construction experience and presently operates a small general contracting company; includes previously teaching at another construction trade school; Master tradesmen with the ability to teach and perform Carpentry, Electrical, Plumbing, and basic HVAC; Project Management Professional (PMP) Series – Certification

Gene Cobb

Instructor

OSHA 10 Class CHST/Site Inspector/Authorized OSHA Training Director at Diversified Safety Services/Safety Dir at ABC Greater Baltimore

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Tyrone Rushing

PJSI Instructor

System Service Technician at Fireline Corporation. Commercial Driver’s License holder with over 10 years of transportation experience; Project JumpStart graduate.
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