Village Brings On Former Communications Director's Company For Contract PR Work

ORLAND PARK, IL — A familiar name in Orland Park village communications was brought back into a similar role this week, with officials signing off on a contract with the PR firm she leads.

Nabeha Zegar, who was formerly employed full-time as the Village's Director of Communications and Marketing, is now president of PubliCity Communications LLC. The Village Board voted 4-2 Monday to hire the firm at a cost of $5,000 per month to drum up publicity for the Village. Trustee Bill Healy was absent.

The proposal was met with some resistance, with dissenting votes from trustees Michael Milani and Cynthia Katsenes. Both were seated trustees during Zegar's time in her previous role, from which Zegar was let go from that position in 2024.

Carol McGury, who lost her bid for a trustee seat in the April 2025 consolidated election, criticized the board's decision during public comment, likening it to their re-hiring of former Village Manager George Koczwara weeks earlier.

“Just as you did with hiring a village manager, there was no posting or consideration for other candidates,” she commented. “You are basically re-hiring former employees who might have had issues or terminations.”

< READ ALSO: Amid Transparency Concerns, Orland Board Reinstates Former Village Manager >

In response to concerns about the end of her previous employment, Zegar said in a statement to Patch that it was not performance-related.

“I think it’s important to clarify that leaving the Village was not due to my performance or any failure to meet my assigned responsibilities," Zegar said. "As a public relations professional, I choose not to disparage a former elected official. I will say, however, that I worked hard every day to meet and exceed the goals of the village and engaged effectively and consistently with the community."

Milani's concerns were related to Zegar's personnel record, and her work on Mayor Jim Dodge's campaign.

Dodge, in a call to Patch Friday, said he had reviewed the file and "disregarded" much of it.

"I think that when those comments were brought out on the Board, I was quite frankly mortified, and I think the trustees that brought them up were wrong," Dodge said to Patch.

In regards to the personnel file, Dodge said he felt it was a personally motivated attack on Zegar.

"I disregarded most of what I found, because it felt to me like a hit job."

Zegar told Patch she volunteered with the campaign "as a resident, just like many others did," and was not compensated for her contributions.

Citing Zegar's 12 years of experience, Dodge asserted the hire was made with the village's best interests in mind.

“She has pretty strong credentials,” Dodge said. “We hired local for someone to do a critical function of trying to increase the volume, reach and sophistication of our communication to our residents.”

Zegar said she is excited to return to a role that enables her to promote the community she loves.

“I’ve been an Orland Park resident for most of my life," she said in a statement to Patch. "I’ve raised my four amazing children here and served the community throughout that time. As a room mom, a PFE board member, a local journalist, a magazine editor, a CSHS Music Booster Board Member, and as a village employee for over 12 years. As the Village’s Director of Communications and Marketing, as well as the Public Information Officer, I oversaw the complete overhaul of the village communications efforts, including overseeing the development of the new award-winning website, the senior outreach initiatives, bringing the live broadcast of our village meetings, and did so proudly.

"I am pleased to be contracted as the public relations vendor for the Village of Orland Park. The Village Board has placed their trust in my experience and expertise in municipal communications, and I look forward to assisting in the advancement of village communication efforts."