Jefferson Parish Pulse: Laitram + Intralox

On the Season One finale of the Jefferson Parish Pulse, we interviewed Jay Lapeyre, President of Laitram, and Edel Blanks, President & CEO of Intralox, which is an operating division of Laitram. Laitram is a vibrant, forward-thinking manufacturer with a long-term commitment to innovation, integrity and continuous improvement across its operating divisions. The company manufactures everything from modular plastic conveyer belt technologies and seafood processing equipment to…stairs. The company has hundreds of patents and has made a name for itself – both in the Greater New Orleans region and around the globe – because of its commitment to service and excellence. Jay, Edel and Kelsey talked about having a strong business philosophy, creating a culture of excellence, working with an engaged and active support system in Jefferson Parish, and what it takes to be a global competitor in a rapidly changing economic climate.

About Jay Lapeyre

Jay Lapeyre is President of Laitram, LLC., a global manufacturer of plastic 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 solutions to the global energy industry. Mr. Lapeyre is past Chair of the Board of Tulane University, serves on the board of the Cato Institute, and is Board Chair of The Atlas Society in Washington, DC. He is a past Chair of The Business Council of New Orleans, The New Orleans Crime Coalition, and of Isidore Newman Board of Governors. Post-Katrina, through the Business Council and in association with Citizens for 1 Greater New Orleans, Mr. 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. Mr. Lapeyre earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Texas and his Master of Business Administration and Doctor of Jurisprudence from Tulane University in 1978. He, and his wife Sally have three adult children and four grandchildren.

About Edel Blanks

Edel joined Intralox in 1994, and has held numerous leadership positions in operations, customer service and sales. He lived in the Netherlands for five years as the General Manger of Intralox Europe.  Edel became President of Intralox in 2004. Since that time, the company has expanded globally and invested heavily in food safety, parcel sortation, package handling, and other critical conveyance solutions. Edel is passionate about the unique culture at Intralox—obsessive customer service, long-term innovation, a relentless focus on continuous improvement, treating each other with dignity and respect, and a deep belief in the potential of each individual. He is a champion of the no jerks policy at Intralox. An industry leader, he has served on numerous industry boards and most recently as a member of the Executive Committee of the Food Processing Suppliers Association (FPSA). Prior to joining Intralox, Edel was a Partner at the law firm of Jones Walker, LLC in New Orleans. He is a graduate of Tulane University where he also received his Juris Doctorate.  Intralox, with annual revenues of $650 million and double-digit annual average organic growth, is the inventor of modular plastic conveyor belts. A global conveyance leader, Intralox also provides food safe low-tension conveyor belts, high speed automation technology, and related services.  For four decades, Intralox has achieved its position as value leader through a direct business model, a consistent focus on customer value, and industry specialization. Intralox’s expansive global customer service infrastructure delivers expert application advice, real-time access to expert troubleshooting, and unmatched replacement lead times. Intralox headquarters are in New Orleans, LA (USA). The company has eleven facilities across five continents, over 2,000 employees, and more than 1,400 active patents in force across the globe.

Feel free to listen to the full interview below. You can also hear us anywhere you listen to your podcasts, including Apple Podcasts,  Spotify and Stitcher. We would LOVE your feedback. Please send your thoughts, questions and show requests to Kelsey Scram at kscram@jedco.org.]