Joliet City Hall Turnover During Terry D'Arcy's Term: Who Has Left, Who's New And Who's About To Leave

JOLIET, IL — This week marks the two-year anniversary of Beth Beatty's start date with the city of Joliet as the new city manager. After working for four different mayors with the city of Chicago, Beatty decided she needed a career change, so she came to Joliet. Mayor Terry D'Arcy and the Joliet City Council gave her a $230,000 starting salary and a three-year contract.

“I am confident I can work effectively with Mayor Terry D'Arcy and the Joliet City Council to help the city achieve its short-term and long-term goals, positioning Joliet as a leader in the region and the State of Illinois," Beatty announced in the 2023 press release.

Since Beatty took over Joliet's City Hall two years ago this week, there has been a lot of personnel changes in key positions at City Hall. Joliet Patch has compiled a summary showing all the people who have left, started or intend to leave under Beatty's administration.

Christa Desiderio: January 2024

A month into her job as the new city manager, Beatty issued a press release announcing that Joliet was filling the long vacant deputy city manager's position and the job was going to Christa Desiderio.

Joliet Patch reported that Desiderio would make a starting salary of $185,500 as deputy city manager. In 2023, as city clerk, she made a total of $142,695. “Christa is the best choice to help me in managing our city government and serving the people of Joliet,” Beatty announced. “She has strong leadership and managerial skills along with knowledge in the day-to-day operations of city government and is respected by the staff and City Council.”

March 2024: Three City Hall Employees Ousted By Beatty

Three employees at Joliet City Hall — city of Joliet economic development director Cesar Suarez; his boss, Community Development Director Eva-Marie Tropper; and Krystal Walsh, the city of Joliet's senior human resources generalist, were out of jobs as a result of an employment shakeup, Joliet Patch reported. Tropper made $157,117 in 2023, Suarez made $135,207 in 2023, Walsh made $81,571, the city of Joliet finance department's annual compensation report shows.

Suarez came to Joliet in May 2022, and he was hired away from Peoria by former city of Joliet manager Jim Capparelli. Under Suarez, economic development projects stagnated across the city of Joliet as Suarez focused on electronic vehicles and trying to establish lots of electric vehicle charging stations across Joliet.

Tropper was also a Capparelli hire in June 2021, and she was rarely in the news, either, unlike her predecessor Kendall Jackson, who retired from Joliet after a long and distinguished career, retiring in December 2020. Tropper came to Joliet after serving as a project manager with the City of Chicago.

May 2024: Joliet Hires Paulina Martinez And Rosemaria DiBenedetto

In addition to announcing the hiring of Rosemaria DiBenedetto as Joliet's new public relations director, city manager Beth Beatty revealed that Paulina Martinez would take over as the city's new economic development director.

Martinez filled the vacancy created about two-and-a-half months earlier when Cesar Suarez was forced to resign after less than two years on the job, after coming to Joliet from Peoria. Joliet had very few success stories with economic development during Suarez's tenure with Joliet.

In her new role, Martinez was asked to lead the city’s efforts to become a regional leader in bringing new companies and jobs to the city. Prior to her hiring, Martinez was working in Chicago as the business development director for World Business.

As for DiBenedetto, Beatty announced that City Hall's new media engagement and communications director position would be filled by Rosemaria DiBenedetto, a public relations executive who has been handling communication matters for Mayor Terry D’Arcy.

DiBenedetto had worked as D'Arcy's campaign manager for his successful political campaign that defeated incumbent Mayor Bob O'Dekirk in the April 2023 election.

In her new role at City Hall, DiBenedetto made a starting salary of $159,900. On April 3, 2024, Joliet Patch reported that the salary range for the new media engagement & communications director was listed as a minimum salary of $111,000 and a top salary of $177,570.

"The city needs a strong voice to serve as the city’s spokesperson while working with myself, the mayor, city council, department heads and others to handle the influx of media requests while promoting the good work we are doing on behalf of the residents," Beatty announced at the time of DiBenedetto's hiring.

July 2024: Lauren Staley Ferry (O'Hara) Named New City Clerk

The city of Joliet announced that Will County Clerk Lauren Staley Ferry, now known as Lauren O'Hara, applied for and accepted a job offer to become Joliet’s new City Clerk. The City Clerk post was being advertised for applications since Joliet's long-time city clerk Christa Desiderio took on the role of deputy city manager earlier in the year. O'Hara was elected Will County Clerk in 2018. O'Hara's starting salary overseeing the city clerk's staff at City Hall was $139,510.

“Lauren will bring her knowledge and expertise to the position and allow for this to be a much smoother transition to such an important position in city government,” Beatty stated in the city's press release. “We posted the position months ago and I interviewed a number of candidates for the job, but no one could start day one with this much experience except Lauren.”

July 2024: Neighborhood Services Director For Joliet Paid To Resign

Michael Sinnet has signed a separation agreement to end his employment with Joliet as the neighborhood services director on July 22, 2024. In exchange for his departure, the city agreed to give Sinnet a severance totaling 14 days of salary.

According to his LinkedIn profile, Sinnet became Joliet's neighborhood services director the previous November. Before that, he worked the previous two years, from 2021 until 2023, for Bloomington, holding the job title of community enhancement division manager. Before that, he worked for a year as town manager in Cambridge City, Indiana.

According to the agreement, on Aug. 2, 2024, Sinnet received his final paycheck to pay out his final pay period, and on Aug. 16, 2024, Sinnet was set to receive his severance payment of $3,875.01. "This figure represents Employee’s net pay for a two-week period, this payment shall also include the payout of unused benefit time provided for by ordinance. In addition, the City agrees to provide Employee’s health insurance coverage until August 31, 2024. At the end of this period, the Employee will have the opportunity to elect COBRA coverage, payable at the rates then in effect," the city of Joliet agreement indicated.

The city named long-time employee Joe Fleischauer as the new neighborhood services director following Sinnet's departure.

August 2024: Indiana's Dustin Anderson Named New Community Development Director

Five months prior, Dustin Anderson learned that his tenure as the town manager of Munster, Indiana, was coming to an end after nine years. After he served as a city of Joliet consultant for more than three months, Beatty made Anderson the city's permanent community development director along with a $180,000 salary.

Anderson has been serving as a consultant since April 22, 2024 to oversee the Joliet City Hall department which includes several key areas such as Planning and Zoning, Neighborhood Services, Building, Inspection Division, and Economic Development.

Anderson replaced Eva-Marie Tropper, who was let go in March along with Cesar Suarez, the city's economic development, plus one of the employees in human resources. Anderson was paid $180,000, which is about $30,000 more than his predecessor was making two years earlier.

Chris Regis Ousted By Beatty As Corporation Counsel For Joliet's Legal Department

The taxpayers of Joliet funded a $45,373 separation agreement worked out by the administration of Mayor Terry D'Arcy and first-year City Manager Beth Beatty, agreeing to pay interim corporation counsel Chris Regis, a holdover from the previous administration of ousted Mayor Bob O'Dekirk. Under the agreement, Regis' full-time employment at Joliet City Hall came to a sudden end on Aug. 1, 2024.

When reached for comment about the separation agreement for Regis, the city of Joliet's spokeswoman said that city manager Beth Beatty does not comment on personnel matters.

Regis had worked for Joliet in the legal department for about eight and a half years. In exchange for his payment of more than $45,000, Regis agreed not to make "any false and disparaging statements about his employment with the city, its work product, its employees, the termination of his employment or any other dealings of any kind between him and the city, to any third party including ... past, present or prospective employees of the city, any customer of the city or to any representative of any media."

After paying Regis to leave, Joliet promoted assistant corporation counsel Todd Lenzie, who had been employed since May 2021 as its new interim corporation counsel. Before joining Joliet more than three years prior, Lenzie worked as a Will County Public Defender.

November 2024: Planning Director Jim Torri Honored By City Council For 'Retirement'

During his farewell meeting to the Joliet City Council on Nov. 4, 2024, retiring planning director Jim Torri explained how he came to the city of Joliet in 1990 as a student intern in planning. He became a city planner I in 1993, city planner II in 2005 and planning director in June 2021.

Councilwoman Jan Quillman reminded everyone that Torri provided project oversight on a number of major projects including the Silver Cross Hospital, the Cass Street Tax Increment Finance District, Tower Marketplace Commercial Center, Rock Run Crossings mixed use business center, NorthPoint's Compass Business Park and CenterPoint Intermodal Park.

Quillman then read a proclamation from Mayor Terry D'Arcy "recognizing Jim Torri for his loyal and dedicated service to the city of Joliet."

June 2025: Joliet Central Alum Takes Over As Joliet City Hall Planning Director

After retiring city of Joliet planning director Jim Torri used up his more than five months of accrued vacation time and was off the city payroll, Joliet announced the promotion of Jayne Bernhard to replace him. The appointment of Bernhard as Joliet's city planning director came from City Manager Beth Beatty.

“Jayne brings an extraordinary blend of expertise in planning, grant writing, and historic preservation, along with a deep personal connection to our city,” Beatty said. “Her work has already made a lasting impact in Joliet, and we’re confident her leadership will help shape a more vibrant, inclusive, and sustainable future for our community.”

Bernhard has served in the city’s Planning Division since 2017, most recently as a city planner. In her new role, she will lead major citywide projects such as the Joliet Comprehensive Plan, the Interstate 80 Des Plaines River Bridge Community Plan and implementation of the Downtown Joliet Equitable Transit-Oriented Development Plan.

July 2025: Joliet's Newly Created Director Of Special Events Hire Revealed

The city of Joliet named Ann Sylvester as its new director of cultural affairs and special events. She is overseeing the planning and coordination of community celebrations, special events and cultural initiatives, the city announced. Sylvester previously served as deputy commissioner of operations and permits for the city of Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events.

“She brings not only an impressive track record in executing world-class events, but also a deep understanding of how to engage communities, foster inclusivity, and turn public spaces into cultural landmarks,” Mayor Terry D’Arcy said in a news release. “Her leadership will help Joliet shine on the regional and potentially national stage.

After enacting a property tax increase and a gasoline tax increase upon the citizens of Joliet this year, Joliet city manager Beth Beatty gave Sylvester a $150,000 starting salary as Joliet City Hall's new director of cultural affairs and special events.

August 2025: $43,000 In Raises, Promotions For Joliet's New Deputy City Clerk Since 2021 Hiring

A recent Joliet Patch Freedom of Information Act request revealed that Nicole Hughes was promoted in August within City Clerk Laura O'Hara's office to become her new deputy city clerk. Hughes' promotion came after a job transfer within City Hall. Pauline Ames, the long-time deputy city clerk under O'Hara's predecessor, Christa Desiderio, was moved into the human resources office and given the position of human resources coordinator.

According to Joliet's salary data, Hughes is now making an annual salary of $105,000 — which is $15,750 higher than what Ames was making after several years on the job as Joliet's deputy city clerk.

August 2025: Joliet HR Director Who Had Several Huge Pay Raises Announces Departure

Kathy Franson, who served as the city of Joliet's human resources director since 2017, informed her superiors and colleagues that she was leaving the city of Joliet on Halloween.

"I am excited to announce that I will be retiring from the City of Joliet on October 31, 2025," Franson wrote in an email sent to city staff. "I wanted to give the City ample time to find my replacement to ensure a smooth transition with minimal impact. Therefore, you will be seeing the job posting for the next HR Director publicized soon. For HR assistance between now and October 31st, please don’t hesitate to contact me or another member of the HR Department Team."

As for Franson, Joliet Patch has published several articles in recent years surrounding her rise in pay and that some of her department's responsibilities have been delegated to Joliet's legal department, prompting a substantial pay raise for one of Joliet's newer assistant corporation counsels. On April 29, Joliet Patch published the following exclusive story headlined, "Joliet Boosts HR Director Kathy Franson's Salary Another $11,353 In 2024."

November 2025: Joliet's New HR Director Comes From Aurora: 'My Vision Is To Strengthen Government Transparency'

Joliet City Manager Beth Beatty announced that Elizabeth Coronado Abrego, a human resources executive and military veteran, has been selected as the new human resources director for City Hall.

Her starting salary is $165,000, city officials told Joliet Patch. She has more than 20 years of experience in human resources management — including 11 years of service with the City of Aurora.

“Elizabeth’s extensive background in HR leadership, combined with her service as a military veteran and more than a decade of municipal HR experience in Aurora, makes her an outstanding choice to lead our Human Resources Department,” Beatty announced in the press release. “We are confident that she will strengthen our organization, support our employees, and help us continue to deliver high-quality services to the residents of Joliet.”

Abrego is a military veteran who holds multiple professional certifications in human resources and leadership development. She assumed her new role on Nov. 24, following the retirement of Human Resources Director Kathy Franson, who retired on Halloween after eight years at Joliet.

November 2025: Manhattan Hires Joliet's PR Director Rosemaria DiBenedetto As Village Administrator

Manhattan's mayor and trustees approved the hiring of the city of Joliet public relations director as the town's next village administrator. Rosemaria DiBenedetto, who was hired as Joliet's media engagement and communications director in 2024, replaces Jeff Wold, who resigned earlier this month to return to a police leadership role elsewhere. Wold had been in the role since 2024, moving into it after also serving as the town's police chief twice.

In Joliet, DiBenedetto was hired at an initial salary of $159,900, boosted in August 2025 to just over $165,000. The raise was retroactive to January 2025, records show. In Manhattan, she was approved at an annual salary of $164,000, with a contract set for three years, coinciding with Mayor Mike Adrieansen's mayoral term, according to village documents.

DiBenedetto's last workday at Joliet will be Dec. 19.

December 2025: Deputy City Manager Christa Desiderio Announces Plans To Retire In 2026

After less than two years in her role as the deputy city manager of Joliet — the second highest-ranking position at City Hall — Christa Desiderio notified city officials that she plans to leave the city of Joliet next year and retire.

"Dear Beth," Desiderio wrote in her letter announcing her departure, "I am writing to formally inform you of my intent to retire as Deputy City Manager with the City of Joliet, effective July 7, 2026. After over twenty-five meaningful years of service with the city, I look forward to dedicating more time to global mission and volunteer work. It has been an honor to serve this community."

Several people affiliated with Joliet have told Joliet Patch that city clerk Laura O'Hara, who was hired to fill Desiderio's position when she became the new deputy city manager, has been identified for some time as the next deputy city manager.

On Friday, Joliet Patch asked whether the deputy city manager job opening is not being posted for prospective candidates until July because O'Hara is getting the position.

Soon-to-be-departing media relations director Rosemaria DiBenedetto responded to the question about O'Hara by stating, "The position will be posted after Christa's retirement."