The Suffolk Partnership for a Healthy Community, a coalition-building organization serving Suffolk since 1998, has announced Executive Director Jaya Tiwari’s relocation to Washington, D.C., and the selection of Robbie Laughton of Virginia Beach as the incoming executive director.

Caroline Martin, board president, praised Tiwari’s contributions and expressed appreciation for her leadership at a recent farewell luncheon.

“Our deepest gratitude to Jaya for her untiring service, unwavering dedication and exemplary leadership as she worked in advancing the partnership coalition to build a healthy community,” Martin said. “Since joining the partnership in 2010, Jaya has demonstrated a remarkable capacity to galvanize effective coalitions and partnerships through her orientation to collaborative processes, an approach the partnership deems critical in expanding the impact of health in Suffolk.”

Martin added Tiwari’s advocacy had resulted in the growth of the Suffolk on the Move and community garden initiatives, the establishment of the Healthy Youth Ambassador Program and Positive Lifestyle Commitment Program, and the launch of the 10-year Healthy People/Healthy Suffolk plan.

Tiwari will be relocating because of her husband’s work, according to a news release.

Robbie Laughton, incoming executive director, will join the partnership on Jan. 3.

“We have found our next ‘chief advocate’ for the organization and the Suffolk community,” Martin said. “We extend a warm welcome as Robbie fills the executive director position.”

An experienced executive leader and manager, Laughton most recently served as the community manager for the American Cancer Society for the Hampton Roads and South Central Virginia areas. He has also served as the director of parks and recreation in Chowan County, N.C., and operations officer at Charlottesville Abundant Life Ministries Inc.

Laughton earned a Bachelor of Arts in recreation administration/physical education from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and completed the Municipal and County Government Administration Certification through the Institute of Government in Chapel Hill, N.C.

For more information on the organization, visit www.suffolkpartnership.com.