The principals at FA Experts offer a long history of achieving positive quantitative and qualitative results for a variety of public and private institutions. Their shared passion is to assist students in the quest for higher education. They are committed to helping you achieve the same goals.

David M. Canaski

President
B.S. Business Administration/Management – Canisius College

Dave has nearly 25 years of Financial Aid experience. He spent 11 years as the Director of Financial Advisement at SUNY Cortland. Dave also served as Corporate Director of Financial Aid at Bryant & Stratton College. Considered one of the industry’s leading authorities, he has been asked to speak or train by many distinguished groups, including EASFAA, NYSOBBA, HESC, and ASA. He has been a featured presenter at annual conferences for NYSFAAA and SUNYFAP a combined 21 times. Dave has also served as an advisor to 4 student loan lenders and 2 guarantee agencies. As president of NYSFAAA in 2006, he served during the investigation of student lending by the N.Y. Attorney General’s Office. He was recognized for his effective, no-nonsense leadership during that tumultuous time. In his free time, Dave’s passions are muscle cars and classic Mustangs. His other passions are his two children and beautiful wife Kelly.

William H. Mack

Vice President
B.A. Political Science – SUNY Buffalo
M.S. Counselor Education – Syracuse University

Bill is truly a financial aid veteran with over 25 years in the industry. He most recently served in the Student Financial Services Office at the Rochester Institute of Technology. Bill also served at the City University of New York’s Central Office as the Assistant Director of Financial Aid for Training and Project Management. He is a long time member of NYSFAAA and EASFAA and has served in numerous roles for those organizations. Bill has been an instructor at NYSFAAA’s Novice Training program for nearly 20 years and co-chaired the event from 2002 to 2008. He was awarded NYSFAAA’s prestigious Thomas Monahan Service Award in 1998. In his free time, Bill is a volunteer EMT (and treasurer) for the North Chili Fire Department. Despite living over 250 miles from Manhattan, Bill volunteers several times a year with New York City’s famous Central Park Medical Unit. Contrary to Bill’s insistence, his wife Levy is the only person who laughs at all of his jokes.

Karen T. Taylor

Vice President
B.S. School of Education and Human Development – Binghamton University

Karen’s experience and tenure in financial aid is truly impressive. Over the past 20 years, Karen has gained a reputation for excellence in both customer training and service. She has spent the last decade as a Senior Financial Aid Advisor at SUNY Cortland. Most recently, she was elected Vice-President of SUNY Financial Aid Professionals. Karen has served on numerous advisory boards and chaired several committees including the NYSFAAA Region III School Counselor Workshop Committee, the Region III Mentoring Committee and the American Student Assistance (ASA) Technology Focus Group. The latter was integral to the development of ASA’s on-line system for lenders and schools. She has served as an instructor at NYSFAAA’s Novice Training program many times and presented at a host of conferences. She has been twice awarded the SUNY Financial Aid Professionals Service Award and most recently was awarded a SUNYFAP Presidential Citation. Karen’s passions include fly-fishing and spending as much time as she can with her new granddaughter. Her other passions include antiquing and classic movies.


Consultant Spotlight:

Rachel Brinkley Smith

Director of Client Services
M.S. Management – University of Maryland University College
B.S. Business Administration – San Jose State University

Rachel is a charismatic and results-driven leader with an impressive record of success in financial aid administration and management. Her background in higher education and student financing in the Mid-Atlantic region spans more than 15 years. Prior to joining FA Experts, Rachel served as Assistant Vice President for Wachovia’s Education Finance Division. The targeted business solutions she provided in this capacity resulted in streamlined processes and greatly improved customer service for her clients. Rachel has direct experience in building efficient and compliant operations as the Director of Financial Aid and Scholarships at Howard Community College and the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Among her many professional affiliations, Rachel has served as Chair-Elect and Maryland President for the Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators and on the board of the Eastern Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators.

Visit Us at these Upcoming Conferences


CCST Conference

Oct 6~8

Galveston, Texas
Please stop by our booth in the exhibit hall at Moody Gardens Resort.




FA Experts, Inc. | 300 Hylan Dr., Suite 317, Rochester, NY 14623 | 866.767.5692