Allison Bliss, a local businesswoman and former entertainment producer who's rubbed elbows with Oscar winners such as Francis Ford Coppola and Robin Williams, is set to steal the spotlight herself Monday. That's when she and several other East Bay businesswomen will receive a Woman-Owned Business of the Year Award from the Oakland-based Women's Initiative for Self-Employment.

"I was very surprised to hear that I'd won," said Bliss, an Alameda resident who runs her own consulting practice. "I found out (online) on my Facebook wall."

Women's Initiative, a micro-enterprise training and funding organization that provides low-income women with business training and ongoing support in addition to access to capital, told Bliss she'd been picked for several reasons. For one, she's successfully run her own consulting business for 20-plus years that supports both large corporations and small businesses.

"Allison had the courage to leave a male-dominated production career in favor of helping individuals 'find their Bliss' in their own businesses," the organization said. "Allison exemplifies what it means to be self-employed and can teach others how to do the same."

Bliss added, "I have the coolest clients in the world."

Her clients include a personal fitness trainer looking to expand into another health-related field, an Alameda Realtor, a skin-care company, a maker of eco-friendly bricks, and One World Music, a training firm that focuses

"My clients are really diverse," she said. "I try and help them focus on their action plans as well as on marketing, including everything from videos to blogs."

Bliss works with about 80 vendors who provide services for her clients' marketing and other projects.

While she helps clients become as efficient and effective as possible, Bliss seems to practice what she preaches in her own life. Her community activities entail work for organizations such as Midway Shelter of Alameda, East Bay Goodwill, the SPCA, Wardrobe for Opportunity, Habitat for Humanity, the West Alameda Business Association, Alameda Chamber, Alameda Civic Light Opera and Bike Alameda.

Bliss is also busy rolling out several tools for businesses to buy online. Such tools aim to show clients how to set up electronic newsletters, blogs and social-marketing campaigns; they'll be sold online for under $20, she said. In addition, she hopes to do more business teaching and public speaking.

"I'm so grateful to be acknowledged by the Women's Initiative. After starting out my working life in college as a carpenter and electrician, I feel like I've really fought my way along the past 30 years in business. All women struggle. It's really worth it, and I hope to help other women succeed, too."

For more information about the awards and a complete list of winners, go to www.womensinitiative.org.