Determined producer who recognized the potential of a novel by Winston Groom entitled "Forrest Gump" and nurtured the project for nine years until it was made into a boxoffice bonanza that went on to win six Oscars including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor.

After completing business studies at the prestigious Wharton School in her native Philadelphia, Finerman worked for The Movie Channel in New York and later went west to become a business affairs executive for Universal Television. She joined Steve Tisch Productions as vice president of production and development in 1985. It was