For John Eaves, cultural exchange and economic development aren't mutually exclusive.

The chairman of the Fulton County Board of Commissioners has been a Fulbright scholar and regional head of the Peace Corps, both organizations that value the flow of people and ideas.

Mixing in lessons from his experience as chair of the Atlanta Sister Cities Commission, Mr. Eaves has taken a comprehensive approach to the county's growing relationship with Bahia, a northern state in Brazil with a strong African heritage and a promising economic future.

"They're kind ...