James M. Lapeyre, Jr. (Jay) is president of Laitram, LLC. Laitram is a diversified global manufacturer of plastic conveyor belting, high speed package sorting, shrimp processing equipment and space-saving stairs.

Lapeyre serves as board chair of the Cato Institute and is also board chair of The Atlas Society. He is a past chair of the board of Tulane University, The Business Council of New Orleans, The Louisiana Association of Business and Industry, The New Orleans Crime Coalition and the Isidore Newman School Board of Governors.  Post-Katrina, Lapeyre 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, criminal justice, and the Orleans Inspector General and Independent Police Monitor.

Lapeyre earned his BA from the University of Texas and his MBA and JD from Tulane University. He and Sally have three married children and seven grandchildren.