Rebecca Llewellyn built a successful family business, broke through barriers for women in construction and became a tireless advocate for the small contractors who often need a voice.
Robin MacLennan
Special to California Construction News
Some people build a business. Rebecca Llewellyn built a legacy.
For more than five decades, the San Diego entrepreneur poured her energy into growing Payco Specialties, a family-owned striping and pavement-marking company that became a respected name in California’s construction industry. Along the way, she built lasting relationships, helped create opportunities for her employees and became a passionate advocate for women, small businesses and others working to find their place in construction.
Today, after 51 years in business, Llewellyn can look back on a career filled with accomplishments — and a growing list of honours recognizing the impact she has made along the way, including the latest from California Construction News, which has named Llewellyn one of its Top Women in Construction for 2026.
As the driving force behind San Diego-based Payco Specialties, she helped grow a small family business into an established striping and pavement-marking contractor. Along the way, she became an advocate for women in construction and a champion for small and disadvantaged businesses navigating an industry increasingly shaped by large projects and major contractors.
She served on industry and public committees, travelled to Washington, D.C., to advocate for women construction owners and worked to ensure the concerns of the smallest contractors were heard when policies affecting their businesses were being shaped.
Those accomplishments have earned Llewellyn recognition as one of California Construction News’ Top Women in Construction for 2026.
The honour follows another recent recognition: a Lifetime Achievement Award from Caltrans District 11, presented during its Small Business Contractor Recognition Awards celebration in San Diego.
“It makes me feel very proud, not just for myself, but for all women because that says that we have passed the test, I think,” Llewellyn said.
Her career, however, began with a much smaller opportunity — and a refusal to let someone else take ownership of it.
More than 50 years ago, when a small striping company came up for sale, Llewellyn went to the bank seeking a $5,000 loan.
“They said to bring my husband in,” she recalled. “And I said, ‘No, it would be my company.’”
She left the bank, called her parents and borrowed the money for the first payment herself.
That determination would shape the next 51 years.
Building Payco
Payco was founded in 1975 by Rebecca and her husband, Dave Llewellyn, after they purchased a small business that made preformed concrete wheel stops for parking lots. Over time, the company evolved into a striping and pavement-marking contractor, building its business job by job.
The company remained a private, family-owned business and retained the character of the small operation its founders had envisioned. During Llewellyn’s tenure, Payco typically employed about 40 people, a size she felt allowed her to remain closely connected to both the business and the people who worked there.
“I stayed a small business because I feel I can be more effective and I can have more employees that I can give more time to and they can be successful in their careers with me,” she said.
For Llewellyn, staying small was never about limiting success. Her goal was to build a company where employees could succeed alongside her.
“My dream when I wanted to own my own company was that my employees could own their own homes and send their kids to college,” she said. “I’ve been successful in doing that.”
That achievement remains one of her proudest.
The family-owned company built its longevity on quality, efficiency and a close attention to detail. Its reputation became its calling card, with Llewellyn personally keeping an eye on completed work to make sure it met the standards she expected.
“Your word had to be as good as a signed contract,” she said. “You always had to go the extra mile to make it a perfect job.”
Payco grew from small jobs into an established contractor, particularly through its work in Caltrans District 11. The company remained certified as both a Women’s Business Enterprise and a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise, while managing increased workloads through improved equipment and efficiency rather than simply expanding its workforce.
“I’m very appreciative of all the agencies that I’ve been able to do business with through the years,” Llewellyn said.
Breaking through
When Llewellyn entered construction, women were largely absent from many of the industry organizations and committees where relationships were built and decisions were made.
“They didn’t want me in that field,” she said. “And so I had to be the best in my field so that companies would use me.”
She recalled being encouraged by clients and contractors to become involved with the Associated General Contractors. Her response was blunt.
“I said, ‘They won’t let me go in. They don’t want a woman sitting around the table.’”
One contractor disagreed and insisted she attend a meeting with him.
That support helped open a door, and Llewellyn never forgot the importance of having someone willing to stand beside you.
“When you have somebody that will stand with you, you can go ahead and get in the field and be a part of the organization,” she said.
Over the years, she became that voice for others.
Llewellyn served as chair of the City of San Diego Citizens Equal Opportunity Commission and has been active with the Association of General Contractors and the California Small Business Association. She also served on the Caltrans Small Business Council, where she advocated for the smallest contractors and worked to ensure their perspective was considered as agencies developed policies and procedures for major infrastructure projects.
That role reflected a commitment that extended well beyond her own company. Llewellyn understood how decisions surrounding a major infrastructure project could eventually affect the smallest subcontractors and suppliers working further down the chain.
She also travelled to Washington, D.C., through a national organization for women construction owners to advocate for greater opportunities for women in the industry.
Looking back
After 51 years of meetings, projects and daily challenges, retirement has taken some getting used to.
“All these years I have pushed to get up and whatever meeting I had and all of that, now I can just take my time,” Llewellyn said.
She plans to spend time at her farm in Texas and is learning how to slow down after a lifetime of moving from one challenge to the next.
Still, construction remains a subject she talks about with enthusiasm, particularly when the conversation turns to young women considering the industry.
“We have come a very long way,” she said.
Her advice is simple: pursue the career that interests you and work to excel at it.
“I would give any young woman the advice to consider being in any career in the construction field that she wanted to be,” she said. “But she’d have to be the best.”
As she looks back on the company she built and the people she worked with along the way, Llewellyn remains grateful for the career that started with a $5,000 family loan and a determination to do things her own way.
“It’s been a lot of fun,” she said. “I just enjoy what I do and I hope all small businesses feel the same.”
