James M. Lapeyre, Jr. (Jay) is President of Laitram, LLC, a global manufacturer of plastic and sanitary conveyor belting, high speed package sorting equipment, shrimp processing equipment, and space-saving stairs.  He is Board Chair of ION Geophysical, a NYSE company that provides seismic technology services and solutions to the global energy industry. Mr. Lapeyre is board chair of The Atlas Society and a board member of the Cato Institute. He serves on a number of civic boards, and is a past chair of the Tulane University Board, The Business Council of New Orleans, The New Orleans Crime Coalition, the Isidore Newman Board, and the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry.
Post-Katrina, through the Business Council, and in association with Citizens for 1 Greater New Orleans, he has been actively engaged in efforts to reform and improve local and state government to improve flood safety, Orleans assessors, Orleans Sewerage and Water governance, charter schools, etc.