Kevin McLaughlin graduated from the State University of New York at Stony Brook, and worked as an Industrial Engineer until he retired from Grumman/Vought in 2005. He co-founded the Night Heron Poets in Stuart, Florida, and has edited Better Than Starbucks Haiku column since 2016. He has studied and written haiku for over 50 years.

Mclaughlin has frequently presented Buddhist and poetry themed talks at local churches, synagogues, and libraries. He is an active member of the Interfaith Alliance of the Treasure Coast. McLaughlin took the Buddhist Refuge Vows in 2001. He expects to experience Satori one day soon.