Raising her children has been one of her greatest accomplishments and brings Laurie a constant stream of joy, especially with the addition of two grandchildren. She is also an active volunteer in her local community and large church parish, serving more than 6,500 families. Despite several out-of-state relocations and her family’s crosscountry move to Las Vegas, Laurie’s Green Mountain roots and memories remain an important aspect of her identity. “Vermont, and my little town of Brandon, are so important to me,” she said, adding that she and Robert recently purchased a home on Lake Bomoseen to better experience all that the state has to offer. “They are a part of who I am.”
Both Robert and Laurie emphasized the importance of continued learning in and out of the classroom. The two agreed that their Castleton journeys allowed them to grow as a couple and individually. “I can go back to things I have been able to do successfully in my career, and I can tie a lot of them back to things that happened at Castleton, both in the classroom and outside of the classroom,” Robert said. “It’s what you, as a student, put into your educational experience that makes a difference.” TO READ MORE ABOUT THE RUDLOFF’S, VISIT:
CASTLETON.EDU/RUDLOFF
Lights, Cameras, Sports Scott Favalora ‘93 As a director of over 25 years at ESPN, Castleton alumnus Scott Favalora has covered just about all of the most in-demand broadcasted sporting events on television and still finds a daily burning devotion to his field of work. Orchestrating and coordinating the behind-the-scenes action for College Game Day Football and Basketball, the NBA Finals, the SportsCenter Tonight shows, the World Cup, and event boxing are just a few of his long-standing career highlights. “I am still passionate about directing after all these years,” Favalora explained. “I can also invest in my staff who have the same love for the work.” Following his graduation from Castleton in 1993, Favalora used the interpersonal skill set he acquired in the Communications Department to turn an internship into full-time work at the independent television station WTWS in New London, Connecticut. Soon after getting a taste of working in television, he found himself starting a dream position at ESPN as a technical director. “Ultimately, the director can create, document, and do the storytelling,” he said. “Having a creative impact is what I enjoy the most.”
Favalora tried his hand at directing local news at WBAL in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1998, but quickly longed for and returned to his first love, directing sports. Favalora spent the next 15 years at ESPN working his way up through the management chain and now oversees the Studio Directing Department. In his position, Favalora currently leads a 125-person team located throughout Bristol, Connecticut, Los Angeles, California, and Charlotte, North Carolina. “My group includes 16 managers, directors, associate directors, project managers, lighting specialists, and stage managers,” he shared. “In addition to that, we oversee the Studio Design and Development Team, which oversees scenic and some technical installation. I lead a very talented team of creative individuals whose ultimate goal is to give direction that impacts live studio programming.” Looking back on his success with thoughts of advice for those wishing to pursue a similar career path, Favalora reaches for lessons he learned on the Castleton campus. “Treat people with respect and push the envelope,” he advised. “People respond to both of those traits.”
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