Meet The team
LARRY RAY
Owner and operator, has 30 years of experience in the automotive field, is ASE* certified in 8 categories, and is an ASE Certified Master Auto Technician. His experience in the automotive industry began while working at car dealerships; including Buick, Isuzu, Nissan, and Honda, with full factory training at each. In 1986 Larry bought Independent Service of Laguna Niguel and began specializing in repair and maintenance of Japanese cars, including Acura, Honda, Lexus, Toyota, Infiniti, Nissan and Isuzu. In 1992, he and his family moved to Mission Viejo and opened Larry's Independent Service and expanded his services to include all domestic vehicles. Larry is also an active member of the Automotive Service Council (ASC) serving as President, Vice President and board member. He continues to evolve and expand his knowledge by keeping up with industry demands, standards and changes. In 2004, Larry’s Independent Service added to their repertoire of repairs and services by incorporating Hybrid and Diesel vehicle service, repair, and modifications.
TRAVIS BENEDICT
Owner and operator, has over 17 years experience as an ASE* Master Automotive Technician and is a graduate of the foremost technologically advanced Wyoming Technical Institute, with studies focusing on all aspects of automotive diagnostics and repair. While working at a leading Volkswagen dealership in San Diego, CA for more than 5 years, he attended all training classes, qualifying him as a Volkswagen Master Technician. He later worked at one of the largest Mitsubishi dealerships in San Diego County and continued honing his skills as a Master Technician at one of top ranked Mitsubishi, Hyundai and Suzuki dealerships in Irvine, CA, with an emphasis on automatic transmission diagnosis and repair. Travis continues to keep up-to-date on today’s vehicles, including the now popular Hybrid vehicles, by attending advanced training classes throughout the year. Travis holds current certifications with ASE*, is an active member of ASC*, and is the go to person for all your automotive concerns.
SCOT YOUNG
Joined our group with over 20 year’s experience. His passion encompasses every aspect of the automotive and mechanical arena. He worked at a local Dodge, Jeep, and Chrysler dealership where he achieved status as a Factory Master Technician. Scot is a Certified Master ASE* Automotive Technician with additional certifications in ASE*’s advanced L1 classification. Scot also held a position as instructor at UTI, one of the United State’s top automotive trade schools, training students in all aspects of transmission, electrical diagnosis and repair, basic and advanced! Upon leaving UTI, he extended his wealth of knowledge to include all Ford, Jaguar, diesel trucks, 60 to 70’s muscle cars, hybrid vehicles, and was lead technician at one of Mission Viejo’s well known Land Rover repair and service facilities. With his electrical and computer diagnostic skills combined with his experience in Jeep and truck suspension, differential, and fuel system modifications, no job is too big or too small for Scot.
EMERSON TOOMEY
Emerson started his career at age 16 interning for Goodyear learning all aspects and techniques related to extending tire life and road handling and applied this knowledge in the R & D department for a race company before moving to our company for his first stay as an apprentice learning all aspects of Honda and Toyota service and repair. Working at two other independent shops he expanded his knowledge to include a multitude of vehicle repair and service before becoming a technician at a leading Acura dealer. An injury left him temporarily unable to continue in the technical arena, but continued as an advisor for Ford where he became certified in all 13 service fields and was awarded Fords top “Blue Oval” Certification. Resuming his technical back round as a certified Ford and Toyota technician and later as Chief Technician for a leading independent car broker with extensive training, testing, and certification in automotive air conditioning and braking systems, Emerson has placed himself among the elite.
ASE* = Automotive Service Excellence
ASC* = Automotive Service Council
