A musician and photographer, Kutter McLaughlin was a guitarist in several bands for many years and shoots inspiring photographs, particularly on his travels with his family. He may be talented in several different arenas, but his skill as a lineman shines—so much so that he has been selected to represent Entergy Mississippi as Lineman of the Game at the Saints game on Sunday.
A shift serviceman working out of the Larson Street office, McLaughlin has worked with Entergy for 10 years and in the trade for 15 years. Some might say working as a lineman in his blood. His father, Walter McLaughlin, retired from Entergy after working as a lineman for almost 40 years. His example made choosing this work as a career easy.
“Lineman work was all I knew growing up,” said McLaughlin. “I also wanted to work outside instead of working in an office.”
Always ready for a challenge, McLaughlin enjoys shooting trouble the most and counts the restoration effort following Hurricane Harvey, which required getting to damaged equipment in boats, among his most memorable experiences as a lineman. All this experience has enabled him to offer wise words of advice to those new to the field.
“Listen to the older guys,” said McLaughlin. “But also tell them if something doesn’t make sense. If you speak up, you may save someone some heartache.”
Looking out for his fellow crew members, his skill as a lineman and his dedication to serving customers are some of the reasons McLaughlin was selected as Lineman of the Game.
“Kutter is the kind of worker who doesn’t just do the job—he owns it,” said Jordan Clark, line supervisor, Larson Street office. “Whether it’s helping a customer in a tough spot or backing up a teammate, he shows up with knowledge, heart and 110% effort every time. I’m lucky to have him on my team.”
McLaughlin and his wife, Dr. Teresa Hulsey, a psychologist in private practice, have three children, Nolan, 17, Joslyn, 13 and Finley, 10. They enjoy traveling together, with Mexico being their most recent destination and Italy, particularly the Lake Como region, their favorite place to visit.
The Lineman of the Game recognition program is a collaboration between Entergy and the Saints honoring outstanding Entergy lineworkers for their hard work and dedication to the company and the community. McLaughlin will be recognized as the Lineman of the Game this Sunday, when the New Orleans Saints football game take on the San Francisco 49ers in the Superdome. As part of the honor, he and his wife will attend the game, get to see the players up close while warming up on the field and enjoy a VIP experience before kickoff.
