Christine Long, who helped Cash Station Inc. grow as the state's largest automated teller network before becoming chief financial and administrative officer of Miami Corp., died Sunday at her Chicago home after a brief illness. She was 54.

In 1990, Crain's included the Elmhurst native, along with now-Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, in its second crop of 40 Under 40 honorees.

After earning a University of Michigan degree in business in 1980, she joined First National Bank of Chicago, where, at 28, she was named CFO of the Cash Station ATM network; the bank was its biggest shareholder.

“The only thing she knew about ATMs was using one,” said former Cash Station president Stephen Cole, who was impressed with her energy and analytic ability. “She came up the learning curve really fast.”

She earned an MBA from the University of Chicago and later was executive vice president of Chicago investment firm R.H. Meissner & Co.

“She never got into anything she didn't really get into,” recalled Chicago Board of Education President David Vitale, who met Ms. Long when he was a top executive at the bank. “She was driven to success.”

Ms. Long resigned from Miami Corp. at the end of last year and became a consultant to the private investment firm as she considered her next career step, Mr. Vitale said. One of those options was starting her own business, according to a sister, Maureen Long.

Mr. Vitale said Ms. Long loved the outdoors and went on multiday hiking trips out West with his wife, Marilyn.

Services are scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Saturday at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church.