Mentor Village, Inc. is a South Carolina public benefit educational nonprofit founded in Conway, SC. We pair computing and cybersecurity students at Horry-Georgetown Technical College (HGTC) and Coastal Carolina University (CCU) with working CISOs, IT directors, and security engineers through free monthly hands-on labs, 1-on-1 resume clinics, and mock technical interviews.
Horry County is home to rapidly growing academic computing and cybersecurity programs, yet talented graduates often struggle to land their first technical role or leave South Carolina for larger metro areas.
Every monthly session begins with a dedicated 30-minute Mentor Village Career Clinic. Working CISOs, IT Directors, and senior engineers review student resumes line-by-line, conduct mock technical interviews, and demystify hiring pipelines.
Textbooks alone don't build muscle memory. We maintain reusable mobile laboratory kits—including Raspberry Pi 5 computing clusters, enterprise managed switches, portable electronics stations, and defensive security labs—deployed at zero cost to students.
We connect regional technology leaders across telecommunications, healthcare, municipal government, and local MSPs directly with emerging talent from HGTC and CCU—keeping homegrown engineering talent in Horry County.
Mentor Village, Inc. was founded and is directed by Joe Brinkley ("The Blind Hacker"), an offensive security research director, mentor, and legally blind technologist in Horry County, SC.
Undergraduate computing curricula frequently rely on visual presentation slides and abstract simulations. For visually impaired, blind, or neurodivergent students, this creates steep unnecessary hurdles. We counter this by developing tactile computing modules, audio-assisted debugging workflows, braille and high-contrast wire tagging, and direct physical hardware engagement.
Select an initiative below to inspect its cadence, curriculum, and student deliverables.
We actively bridge South Carolina students with the national cybersecurity research community. Through conference sponsorships, technical speaking engagements, and student travel grants, our cohorts learn from and present alongside industry leaders.
📍 Conway & Myrtle Beach, SC
Regional collegiate cybersecurity summit, tactile hardware demo showcase, and student career clinic organized by Mentor Village, Inc. and Conway Computer Club for Southeastern college scholars and practitioners.
📍 Charleston & Greenville, SC
Regional community cybersecurity gatherings where founder Joe Brinkley ("The Blind Hacker") presents on assistive hardware engineering and tactile cyber ranges, sponsoring HGTC & CCU student passes.
📍 Washington, DC
Annual East Coast hacker convention bringing deep technical presentations and national research briefings. Mentor Village conducts national practitioner outreach and mentors aspiring researchers.
📍 Las Vegas, NV
The world's premier cybersecurity and hardware hacking convention. Mentor Village showcases accessible technology workflows in offensive security and hosts an alumni networking session.
Our mission serves the entire Horry County community. Whether you are a high school student discovering your passion for computing, an HGTC or Coastal Carolina University student preparing for your first technical role, an adult career changer, or a self-taught tinkerer, our 5-month runway delivers hands-on lab hours, portfolio coaching, and direct employer connections. (All ages 13+ welcome; youth under 18 welcome with parent/guardian consent or accompanied by an adult).
| Month | Conway Computer Club Lab Theme | Mentor Village Career Clinic Focus | Student Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 2026 Location: TBD |
Kickoff Event: Career Roadmap, Job Market Briefing & 1-on-1 Resume Reviews | Live Line-by-Line Resume Reviews, LinkedIn Optimization & Entry-Level Cyber/IT Job Strategy | Every student leaves with a polished technical resume & 90-day job-hunt plan |
| Dec 2026 | Embedded Systems & Electronics Night: Microcontrollers & Soldering Fundamentals | GitHub Portfolio & Technical Documentation Review | Hands-on electronics & computer engineering fundamentals |
| Jan 2027 | Spring Collegiate Cyber Defense & CTF Workshop (HGTC & CCU Teams) | How to Explain Technical Lab Projects in a SOC / IT Interview | Team problem-solving & defensive lab exercises |
| Feb 2027 | Student Technical Presentation Incubator (15-Minute Coached Demos) | Public Speaking, Executive Briefing & Technical Communication Workshop | 4–6 students deliver their first coached technical presentation |
| Mar 2027 | Horry County Employer & IT Leadership Night: Live Lab + Speed Networking | 1-on-1 Mock Interviews with Local IT Directors, CISOs & Hiring Managers | Direct internship & entry-level job connections in Horry County |
Mentor Village, Inc. operates with strict corporate governance, conflict-of-interest safeguards, and transparent programmatic budgeting. 100% of community grants and charitable contributions directly fund student laboratory equipment, workshop supplies, and subsidized student conference passes.
Whether you are an aspiring builder, high school or college student, parent, educator, local IT leader looking to mentor, or community foundation grant officer, reach out below.
