The link marked its third anniversary and held its annual membership appreciation celebration Saturday, July 20, with a theme of “community,” because, according to its recent Facebook post, “our community of members are the heart of everything we do.”
Attendees enjoyed dinner, ice cream, special giveaways and more in the “space that inspires,” a 22,500-square-foot smart building in Nocatee Town Center. The lobby was filled with members for the event.
The link is the creation of Raghu and Gurpreet Misra. It defies facile categorization and has earned the right to be termed “unique” — a word often overused in the hyperbolic culture of the 21st century but one that nevertheless applies in this case.
From the beginning, Raghu Misra described the link as a place where entrepreneurs can start and grow their businesses, but also a place for their children to engage in recreational and educational activities. Since that initial introduction to the community, the link has proven itself all of that and more.
For the entrepreneurs, it offers a host of co-working space options. For the community, it offers a seemingly endless parade of activities and events, classes and camps. It has hosted cultural celebrations, music and entertainment events, educational opportunities and so much more. And its Flagler Health+ Immersive Studio takes visitors to places they have never had an opportunity to visit in person.
According to data from the link, the facility has helped more than 75 startups, held more than 200 events, positively impacted more than 5,000 children and awarded more than 10,000 volunteer hours. It is perhaps surprising that so much is being accomplished by the link’s small team, which is comprised of the Misras, Elaine Raby (customer experience), Jeff Tawney (operations) and Keeli Scarlett (stories).
The past year has seen a continuation of the link’s EnterCircle entrepreneurship summit; the introduction of Unlockt, an innovative approach to helping children with ADHD; and the establishment of Circle of Creation, designed to support women seeking to expand their horizons.
Unusual events, like the upcoming Bark Fest, join regular programming, such as Collisions & Coffee, which brings together innovators from across the spectrum of professions; the Supper Club, where diners discover a host of international dishes; and the Teen Club, where youths forge friendships and make a difference in their community.
On June 27, the link received an award from the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification system, earning a gold status.
“It’s been quite a journey,” said Raghu Misra. The membership has grown diverse alongside the population of Nocatee and what they want from the link has been evolving. The team has adapted and evolved with those shifts. The link has not stood still, and people are sometimes surprised at what they find there.
“Every five, six months, somebody comes and says, ‘Oh, I didn’t know you’re doing that now,’” Misra said. “It’s a good thing to hear because we are constantly doing more things based on what the community is saying they would like to see at the link.”
He expressed gratitude for these insights shared by the members.
It’s always been difficult to sum up exactly what the link is, but perhaps just as difficult would be to imagine the community without this unique gem.
The link is located at 425 Town Plaza Ave., Ponte Vedra Beach. Learn more at thelink.zone.
