A Family Man. A Family Business. A Legacy of Integrity.
At the center of everything my father, Edmund S. Karl, Jr., did was family.
Born on December 26, 1934, he grew up in Wilkes-Barre, PA, a coal town where hard work was a way of life. That environment shaped him early. You showed up, you did the work, and you earned what you built. Those values stayed with him throughout his life and quietly influenced everything he did.
Determined to create opportunities beyond what he grew up with, Dad worked his way to Drexel University, where he earned a master’s degree in engineering. It was an achievement rooted not just in intelligence, but in discipline, perseverance, and an unshakable work ethic.
He built his professional life the same way he built his family life—thoughtfully, deliberately, and with a long view. After a successful career in engineering management with companies such as RCA and General Electric, where he was responsible for critical electrical systems supporting railroad locomotives during a pivotal period in American industrial history, he entered the environmental field through a management role at Management International. That experience marked the beginning of a second chapter—one that would eventually become a family business.
In 1989, he founded Karl Environmental Group. What began as a small firm grew organically as clients trusted him and asked for more. He never rushed growth. People were added one at a time. Services expanded only when they could be done properly. Certifications were earned because they mattered—not because they looked good on paper.
For a period of time, Dad was also a co-owner of Eagle Industrial Hygiene, reflecting his broader involvement in protecting people’s health and safety at work. But titles and ownership were never what defined him. What defined him was showing up, answering the phone, and helping people solve problems.
He believed strongly in being there when people needed you. Clients knew they could reach him during emergencies—on holidays, weekends, or late at night. That same reliability was what we knew at home. If something needed to be handled, Dad handled it.
One small detail says more about him than any list of accomplishments. On his desk, for years, he kept a simple sticky note with five letters written on it: DWIMI — Do What’s Most Important. It was how he made decisions. When things felt complicated or stressful, he focused on what truly mattered, thinking clearly and acting with purpose rather than emotion.
His guiding principle was simple: recommend the least costly solution that truly works. That philosophy wasn’t about business—it was about fairness. Treat people right, don’t oversell, and stand behind your work.
What makes his legacy especially meaningful is that it was never just his business. It became a family business, built on shared values and carried forward with care. The standards he set—integrity, practical judgment, and genuine concern for others—continue to guide the work today.
To us, he was more than an engineer or a business owner. He was a father, a steady presence, and an example of how someone can come from humble beginnings and build something lasting through hard work, clear thinking, and character.
Dedicated to the memory of Edmund S. Karl, Jr., a devoted father, family man, and builder of a lasting legacy.