There’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes at the Plutus Awards. We have a great team put together, and our Blogger Panel makes tough decisions.

However, with another Plutus Awards completed we want to acknowledge the hard work that goes on during the ceremony to make this even happen. We’d like to thank our volunteers who give their time and effort to help us make the Plutus Awards the great production that it is:

Host and Emcee: Ashley Jacobs

Entertainment: Matt Giovanisci

Audio/Visual: Justin Bufkin, Mike Delgado

Presenters: Stephanie Halligan, Stephanie Cameron, Eric Rosenberg, Wending Poling, J.D. Roth, Martin Dasko, Luke Landes, Scott Halliwell, Donna Freedman, Abby Freedman Perry, Kay Bell, Kylie Ofiu, David Weliver, Tom Drake, Jeff Rose

Stage Manager: Miranda Marquit

Assistant State Manager: Mel

Trophy Master: Paula Pant

Swag Master: Crystal Stemberger

Swag Assistants: Ashley Barnett, Joe TaxPayer

Live Tweeting: Sofia

Live Facebook: Rebecca Stapler

Stage Hands: Jacobe Wade, Shannyn Allen

Ushers: Maria Nedeva, Robert Farrington, Michelle Schroeder, Lance Cothern

Assistants/Runners: Joshua Sheets, Bryan

Photographer: Kevin

Floaters: Jim Wang, Glen Craig

Happy Hour Drink Tickets: Athena Lent, Jana Lynch, Mark Greutman, Lauren Greutman

One of my favorite things about watching the Plutus Awards live is the excitement of the parody song. This year, though, our emcee, Ashley Jacobs from Wise Bread, has done something a little different. She’s working with Matt Giovanisci of Listen Money Matters to put together an entertaining show.

But instead of simply performing the song, Ashley and Matt are looking for audience participation. That’s right, you can be a part of the show by learning the #Plutus14 version of “Can’t Get Enough.”

Luckily, below, is a handy music video, put together by Matt, to help you on your way. Watch for cameos from bloggers you know, learn the words, and get ready for a great show at the Plutus Awards, live at FinCon in New Orleans on September 20, 2014.

Now that nominations are under way, things are a lot more “real” for the Plutus Awards team. One of the things that makes the Plutus Awards possible, aside from our awesome sponsors, is the Blogger Panel.

The Plutus Awards Blogger Panel helps break ties when choosing the finalists, and votes amongst finalists in theawards categories to ratify the Plutus Winners. We like to have a wide variety of bloggers on the panel, since bloggers considered finalists in a category can’t vote in that category. It’s nice to have a large Blogger Panel so that the community is well-represented, and so that having recused bloggers in certain categories doesn’t make as much of an impact.

All of the members of the “regular” Plutus Awards team are part of the Blogger Panel, and here are the other bloggers making up this’s years Plutus Awards Blogger Panel:

• Michelle Shroeder, http://www.makingsenseofcents.com
• Mark and Lauren Greutman, http://markandlaureng.com
• Joshua Sheats, http://radicalpersonalfinance.com
• Maria Nedeva, http://www.themoneyprinciple.co.uk
• Glen Craig, http://freefrombroke.com/
• Shannyn, http://frugalbeautiful.com
• Valerie Rind, http://valerierind.com
• Eva Baker, http://teensgotcents.com
• Crystal Stemberger, http://www.budgetinginthefunstuff.com
• Bryan, http://simplefinanciallifestyle.com/
• Gary Foreman, http://www.stretcher.com
• Jeff Rose, http://www.goodfinancialcents.com/
• Peter, http://www.biblemoneymatters.com
• Matt Giovanisci, http://www.listenmoneymatters.com
• Broke Millennial, http://brokemillennial.com/
• Elle, http://couplemoney.com/
• Andrew Fiebert, http://www.listenmoneymatters.com
• John Schmoll, http://www.frugalrules.com
• Kay Bell, http://dontmesswithtaxes.typepad.com/
• Jacob Wade, http://www.iheartbudgets.net
• Addison Cash, http://www.cashvilleskyline.com
• Sandy Smith, http://yesiamcheap.com
• Lance Cothern, http://www.moneymanifesto.com/
• Jackie Cheapster, http://www.cheapsters.org 
• Kraig Mathias, http://www.createmyindependence.com
• Robert Farrington, http://thecollegeinvestor.com
• Paula Pant, http://affordanything.com
• Julie Rains, http://www.workingtolive.com/
• Joe Saul-Sehy, http://www.stackingbenajmins.com
• Andrea Amir, http://www.smartmoneychicks.com
• Sofia, http://www.caviarandquarters.com
• Michelle Jackson, http://shopmyclosetproject.com
• Anne, http://moneypropeller.com
• Mel, http://www.brokegirlrich.com
• Janine, http://mypenniesmythoughts.com
• Travis Pizel, http://www.enemyofdebt.com
• Tahnya Kristina, http://www.dinksfinance.com
• Rebcca Stapler, http://staplerconfessions.com
• Kyle Prevost, http://www.youngandthrifty.ca
• Justin Bouchard, http://myuniversitymoney.com

Every year at FinCon, we present the Plutus Awards to recognize the best of the personal finance blogosphere. Personal finance bloggers recognize their peers for their accomplishments. However, this sort of event doesn’t put itself on. We have a team working behind the scenes to make it happen.

Plutus Awards Executive Committee

The Executive Committee is made up of Luke Landes, Tom Drake, and Miranda Marquit. Together, the members of the Plutus Awards Executive Committee plan the awards, oversee the voting, and manage sponsors and volunteers.

Luke Landes is the founder of Consumerism Commentary, and the creator of the Plutus Awards. Five years ago, Luke asked fellow bloggers to vote on their favorite blogs, as well as on their favorite financial products and services. The Plutus Awards have grown each year, and this promises to be the biggest year yet.

Luke is the director of the Plutus Awards. He coordinates the Awards, and keeps everything on track.

Tom Drake is the founder of Canadian Finance Blog, and is the owner or partner of several other blogging properties. He handles most of the backend portions of the Plutus Awards, working on the code of the web site, and developing voting forms and other forms. Tom also has a program that tabulates votes to help us understand how many nominations each blog has received to help determine finalists (actual winners are determined by the Blogger Panel) and tabulate votes for the People’s Choice Award (which is determined by popular vote).

Tom was also instrumental in hiring Forest Parks for the Plutus Awards web site redesign.

Miranda Marquit is the writer behind Planting Money Seeds. She writes for several financial web sites and blogs. Miranda is the point of contact for Plutus Awards sponsorships, from coordinating who sponsors the Happy Hour to the companies providing swag for the Plutus Awards Winner Gift Bags. (There are still opportunities to sponsor; email [email protected] for more information.)

Plutus Awards Planning Committee Members

There are also great volunteers helping to plan the events surrounding the Plutus Awards. Here are the rest of the people that make the Plutus Awards possible:

Athena Lent is the founder of According to Athena, a blog about living fabulously on less. Athena is a great events organizer, and is planning the Happy Hour, which will take place following the Plutus Awards ceremony on Saturday, August 20, 2014. In addition to the work required to arrange all aspects of the Happy Hour, Athena is also managing the Plutus Awards Twitter account andFacebook page, handling all social media for the event.

Ashley Jacobs is part of the team at Wise Bread. She is in charge of the ceremony itself. After witnessing her rap skillz at last year’s Plutus Awards ceremony, we asked her to emcee. She’s putting together a fantastic show.

Matt Giovanisci is one of the founders of the Listen, Money Matters podcast. He is known for his humor and quick wit — and his ability with technology. He’s created a great parody song for this year’s Award’s ceremony, and is in charge of audio/visual for the awards.

In addition to those listed above, the Plutus Awards ceremony and everything surrounding the entire season wouldn’t be possible without the help of volunteers throughout the community. At the awards ceremony, a corps of volunteers helps as awards presenters, ushers, stage hands, property managers, stage managers, audio/video technicians, and social media associates, and we all work together to produce a fantastic show that exceeds everyone’s expectations every year.

We’re grateful to all of those who help out with the Plutus Awards, since our team is what makes this production possible.