Location: Raleigh

Web site: www.bjac.com

Number of employees in 2006: 24

Number of employees in 2007: 30

Number of jobs announced in 2006: 7

Employee training allocation (as a percentage of overall budget): 4 to 6 percent

BJAC’s story: BJAC pa, also known as Brown Jurkowski Architectural Collaborative, is an architectural firm with a focus on design, construction administration and management, management consulting, and computer-aided design (CAD) and technology consulting. The firm also has an office in Charlotte.

Training vehicles: The company offers BJAC University to help employees complete the required 18 hours of continuing education credits each year. Its in-house education series offers monthly guest lectures on industry-relevant topics. BJAC pays for intern study guides and exams so they can become registered as professional architects. Its professional and support staff attends industry seminars regularly, with a specific focus on health care, education, laboratories, and museums. BJAC provides lifelong learning in CAD, project management, sustainable design, quality control, and design and details. The firm also hires coaches and consultants to help its staff grow in non-technical and leadership aspects, and its CEO is a member of Vistage International, a worldwide executive group. In 2006, more than 1,000 BJAC man hours were devoted to education, seminars and certifications, totaling more than $100,000 in staff training and development.