Doug Finberg ’94, executive vice president for marketing at MGM Studios in Los Angeles, became the second Communications alumnus to receive the inaugural-year Distinguished Alumni Award in the School of Communications on April 26.
The former WSOE 89.3 DJ spoke in several classes and met with President Leo Lambert, then received the inaugural award at a ceremony that also honored the School’s faculty and students. Finberg discussed how the relationships he forged with faculty in the School defined his time at Elon and his career since graduating.
“This award really means the world to me,” Finberg said. “It’s such an amazing honor, especially to be considered by the faculty and staff at Elon, which I hold near and dear to my heart. … I will cherish this special honor.”
At MGM, Finberg handles all marketing-related matters and publicity efforts for the studio. He joined MGM from Finberg Worldwide, a consulting company he founded that specializes in entertainment and brand marketing, distribution, event strategy and services.
But he got his first taste of the entertainment industry as a public relations intern for Lucasfilm, when he was a student at Elon. He graduated cum laude with a degree in Communications and moved to LA. Since then, he’s worked for several studios, including Paramount, where he served as senior vice president, acting as a liaison for filmmakers, studio executives and producers in Los Angeles.
Before arriving at Paramount, Finberg spent 10 years as a creative executive in international marketing and advertising for DreamWorks SKG. He produced audiovisual, print and online advertising campaigns for movies such as “Meet the Fockers,” “The Ring,” “A Beautiful Mind” and “Cast Away.” He received the 2001 Hollywood Reporter Key Art Award for best international comedy trailer for “Meet the Parents.”
Finberg has also served as administrator of international theatrical marketing and distribution services for MGM, and as a consultant for Universal Pictures international marketing and promotions.
His other film credits include the DreamWorks Animation release, “Kung Fu Panda,” Marvel Studio’s “Iron Man,” “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull,” “Transformers,” “Bee Movie,” “Mission Impossible 3” and “Shrek the Third.”
Finberg delivered Elon University’s 2008 Commencement.
“Doug is an anchor for us in Los Angeles,” said Communications Dean Paul Parsons. “Almost every year, he connects with our Elon in LA students who are there in the summer to take a class and have a high-intensity internship. Doug, your career is an inspiration to current and future students. You are a most worthy recipient of the inaugural-year Distinguished Alumni Award. Congratulations.”