Keeli Scarlett is a recent graduate from Flagler College and the newest member of the team at the link in Nocatee. She enjoys working in this community and writing about interesting people.
Tell us a little about your background. Are you from this area or did you move here from somewhere else? What did you study in college?
I’m originally from Jacksonville. I have so much hometown pride and I really wouldn’t want to be from anywhere else. I recently graduated from Flagler College with a degree in strategic communication, or public relations.
Your title at the link is “storyteller/communications manager,” which sounds pretty cool. Tell us about your work and what you like best about it.
In college I kind of split my time between journalism and public relations. I loved how both allowed me to tell the stories of my community, specifically of the LGBTQ+ and Black and Brown communities of Jacksonville. I love how my role at the link allows me to continue finding cool stories that are worth telling. I think my favorite story to tell so far was about Tery Spataro, a local AI artist who uses AI programs to create these really amazing pieces. People like Tery and other members of the link are why I was drawn to this job in the first place. In addition to that, I manage all of the link’s social media, media and influencer relations, some internal communications and I help out wherever else I can!
Is there a typical day for you, or is each day different? Take us on a small tour of your day.
Each day is so different. I really never know what I’ll be working on once I get into the office. Things move fast at the link, and that’s just the way I like it. I come in with one to-do list, and as the day moves on and I go in and out of meetings, my list morphs into something completely different. I think that’s one of the best things though. Each day moves completely different from the last.
I see that you were beauty director with Strike Magazine. That sounds like a fun job. Can you tell us a little about what you did there?
I absolutely loved my time at Strike! I had been a freelance makeup artist since my last year in high school, but my work hit a wall after I graduated. I was doing the same look on every client because of how the makeup changed after Covid. Everything was all about the “natural” look, and I wasn’t able to be creative like I had been when I started makeup at 13. But when I joined Strike Magazine, I was able to join my love for art and fashion together to create some pretty amazing editorial looks. Whether it was crystal tears, feather lashes, or edgy chrome graphic liner, I was able to try out so many styles of makeup. I worked my way up and became the makeup director and it was my greatest accomplishment in college. I also loved being able to build my portfolio with some super talented local artists. My dream is to one day have my work on the cover of Vogue!
Do you have some career goals you’d like to share?
Right now, I really want to grow with the link. I’m getting to blend all of my favorite things together in this job, like public relations, journalism, copywriting and content creation. Being given this opportunity straight out of college has been such a blessing and I love the team I work with. In the future, I’d love to have my own creative agency where I can help startups with all things communications: public relations, marketing, advertising, web design, copywriting and so much more! I know that I want to keep it local so that I can have a hand in helping my community.
What do you like best about living in this area?
I love the people here. There is not a better community than in Northeast Florida and I truly mean that. Since I’m new to Ponte Vedra, I didn’t know what to expect from the people here, but I can gladly say that everyone has been so kind and they’ve all given me that Southern hospitality that I love so much.
How do you like to spend your free time?
I spend my free time hanging out with my friends and family and going to local community events like Art Walk. I love to have picnics, go to art museums, go dancing, do my makeup and take lots of long naps!
