Since 1980, Jay has owned and managed a series of businesses in the building products and real estate industries. He has chaired and served on the boards of several non-profit organizations such as the local Boys and Girls Club (Wayne County, NC) and Wayne Country Day School (Wayne County, NC). Jay and his wife, Kathy, an NC State grad, served together on the Young Life Committee in Wayne County, NC for over twenty years, much of that time as either committee chairs or finance chairs. Jay has also served in leadership roles in his local churches.