our history
Wohl was founded in 1961 as a union painting and decorating company by Lawrence and Maurice Wohl — a father-son team blending engineering expertise and generations of craftsmanship. Their commitment to quality and professionalism quickly earned Wohl a reputation for tackling the toughest projects, including work for Grumman Corporation and General Electric’s world headquarters in New York City.
Through the 1970s and ’80s, the company expanded into industrial coatings, fireproofing, and specialty finishes across pharmaceutical, food service, and corporate markets. Major clients included IBM, Avon, and the U.S. Department of Defense.
In the 1990s, Jonathan Wohl, son of Lawrence, took the reins and guided the company through a period of growth and diversification. Under his leadership, Wohl became a leader in acoustical insulation, fireproofing, and protective coatings, contributing to the restoration of the World Trade Center after the 1993 bombing and landmark projects like Grand Central Station’s 47th Street Passageway.
The company continued to grow into the 2000s, completing high-profile projects for clients such as Google, Pepsi, Columbia University, Tiffany & Co., and Jazz at Lincoln Center.
Today, under the leadership of Rachel (Wohl) Girsch, Jonathan’s daughter, CFO & Executive Director, and Bryan Girsch, Executive Vice President, Wohl Diversified Services carries forward four generations of expertise—delivering innovative, safe, and high-performance solutions in fireproofing, acoustical insulation, foam, and other specialty contracting trades across the Northeast.
