Joliet's New PR Director For City Hall Will Make $46,000 Less Than Rosemaria DiBenedetto Did In Role

JOLIET, IL — Four months after Joliet Mayor Terry D'Arcy's campaign manager, Rosemaria DiBenedetto, left her position at Joliet City Hall, the city issued a press release on Monday revealing the hiring of a new public relations director.

"The City of Joliet is pleased to announce the appointment of Sydney Thompson as its new Media Engagement and Communications Director. Thompson, a lifelong Will County resident, brings more than a decade of experience in municipal
communications, media relations, and strategic messaging, with a proven track record of serving as a primary spokesperson, leading high-impact communications initiatives, and strengthening public trust through transparent and effective engagement," Joliet's press release noted.

In November, DiBenedetto submitted her resignation notice as Joliet's director of media engagement and communications. DiBenedetto finished her job at Joliet's City Hall on Dec. 19. She left Joliet to take over as the new village administrator for Manhattan.

"Clear, strategic communication is essential to effective local government,” Mayor D’Arcy said in Monday's press release announcing DiBenedetto's replacement. “Sydney’s leadership in municipal communications, expertise in media relations, and demonstrated ability to build trust and drive meaningful engagement will strengthen how we communicate with and serve the Joliet community."

Most recently, Thompson served as marketing and communication manager for the village of Channahon, where she directed the village’s comprehensive communications strategy and served as its primary media contact.

Before that, Thompson held leadership roles at a Chicago-area public relations agency.

“I am honored to join the City of Joliet and serve a community with such a rich history and strong sense of identity,” Thompson announced in Joliet's press release. “I’ve spent a great deal of time in Joliet throughout my life, and I have a deep appreciation for the community and its evolution.

"From its roots as a key transportation and industrial hub to the vibrant, evolving city it is today, Joliet has a powerful story to tell. I look forward to helping share that story while
enhancing communication efforts, building strong relationships, and ensuring that story is
shared with clarity, transparency, and purpose.”

Thompson holds a master of science in communication from Purdue University and a bachelor of arts in journalism, with a minor in sociology, from the University of Missouri.

She is a 2024 graduate of the Joliet Chamber Community Leadership School and holds several FEMA communications certifications.

Before her departure, DiBenedetto was making around $166,000 as the city of Joliet's public relations director. City Hall officials informed Joliet Patch that Thompson's starting salary will be $120,000.