Globalstar moves into new Covington headquarters

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Satellite communications company Globalstar has officially moved into its recently completed headquarters in Covington.

Company executives and public officials gathered Thursday for an open house at the $18 million facility, which was constructed by Mandeville-based DonahueFavret Contractors and took a year to complete. The structure was designed by Greenleaf Lawson Architects of Mandeville. It’s a 66,180-square-foot building on Holiday Square Boulevard, near Globalstar’s previous location in the former Wink Engineering building.

David Kagan, CEO of Globalstar, said the company generated $130 million in revenue last year. The company also reached $40.6 million in earnings before interest, taxes, and amortization (EBITA) – the highest in the company’s history. With that success, he said the company has big plans on the horizon.

“2018 was a great year for Globalstar,” said Kagan, who added the company is producing many new products. For example, Globalstar is developing a product to track cows, especially free-range cattle.

“We are miniaturizing our technology,” Kagan said. “(The satellite) will actually go on the ear of a cow. We are going to be able to track that cow and know everything he is doing.”

The company is also working on developing wearable devices that can track people — Alzheimer’s patients, more specifically.

In addition, the company is focusing on maritime uses for its products.

“We are launching a maritime product that will focus on that market — that we have the perfect technology for –- for coastal and inland waterway type of vessels,” he said.

The company has engaged in a pilot program with the largest telecommunications company in Brazil to provide calling capabilities for remote villages.

“We just completed a trial yesterday and got very favorable reviews,” Kagan said. “So, we’re very excited about the future at Globalstar, and we can’t wait to see what’s next for us.”

In February, Globalstar announced it was looking to add employees prior to moving into the new headquarters building in Covington. Globalstar currently has 230 employees at the Covington location. They recently hired about a dozen new employees.

Globalstar announced in 2010 it would relocate from California to Louisiana. In 2018, Globalstar called off its planned $1.65 billion merger with Fiberlight, a landline company owned by Thermo Capitol, the same company that owns Globalstar.

The new headquarters is in the Versailles Business Center — a 92-acre business park on the North Shore that opened in February 2017.

At the time, Covington-based Gulf States Real Estate Services LLC dedicated The Holiday Square Boulevard Extension, in conjunction with the opening of Versailles.

The $1 million roadway services West St. Tammany parish’s newest Class A business park. Pat Brister, president of St. Tammany Parish, said the business hub and roadway extension add to the attractiveness of the parish’s business climate.

Several properties have been sold in the park, including two lots for expansion of Honda of Covington and eight acres were sold to Globalstar for its corporate expansion.

Mike Saucier, president of Gulf States, said Globalstar’s new headquarters opening is a boon for the area.

“This has set the stage for more to come,” Saucier said. “This will create even more economic development opportunities for St. Tammany Parish.”

The project is located on the northwest corner of Interstate 12 and Highway 190. The location north of the interstate was important to developers because of the potential risk of hurricanes.

Gulf States announced the development in June 2015. Developers hope the business park will serve as the central business district of St. Tammany Parish.

Gulf States is currently building a high-end apartment complex with 327 units next door to Globalstar. A phased opening will commence in July, Saucier said.

“We are continuing to show the park to other outside business interests,” Saucier said. “We are marketing nationally and internationally.”

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