Centre County women gradually are gaining higher positions in local business, but women still do not hold enough positions of decision- and policy-making power, a speaker at a Women's Alliance meeting said Tuesday.

Marnie Derabasse, manager of the North Atherton Street branch of Mid-State Bank, discussed the role of women in economic development in Centre County with Alliance members.

The Women's Alliance is a non-aligned local organization that attempts to bring women with similar interests together to meet the needs of Centre County's female residents. The alliance discusses a wide range of topics and informs its members of other women support groups and their activities.

Derabasse said that although the level of involvement in business is encouraging, many women cannot break into the upper managerial positions because older, traditionally-minded men usually dominate board of directors or "power" positions.

"It seems to me (women) are bumping heads against a glass ceiling because women can progress to a certain level but can't get into that upper-echelon where the real decisions are made," Derabasse said. "I think we have a ways to go."

Derabasse also said a woman's chances to enter upper-managerial positions are better in a large company, because the company is subjected to greater public pressure in regards to sexual discrimination.

Derabasse estimated that 20 percent of businesses in downtown State College are run by women.

Alliance Chairwoman Betty Moore said more local women are in business because of the community's support.

"In my opinion women are allowed to take more risks and they are taking them," Moore said.

At the discussion, an audience member pointed out that women own much of the capital in the United States but do not have the image of wielding financial power.

In the minds of traditionally-thinking board of director members "the woman stayed home to take care of the kids and the men are out earning the money," Derabasse said. She added that she did not have many problems with male co-workers, because younger men are usually more receptive to women's concerns.

Derabasse also serves as a board member on the Project Self-Sufficiency Task Force which trains individuals with various job skills to alleviate their welfare status.

She said the task force is made up of representatives from the business community to provide varied training opportunities. The program currently has 17 trainees, Derabasse said.

Mildred Cornelison, director of the human service planning commission, said the program has been successful and the state Human and Urban Development agency plans to expand the program across the state. As of now only three other communities participate in the program.