The Certified Valuation Analyst designation is the only valuation credential accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA), the accreditation body of the Institute for Credentialing Excellence (ICE). 

Valuation expert Robert M. Clinger III, CBA, CVA, LIFA with the firm Highland Global Business Valuations has previously been awarded the prestigious Accredited Valuation Analyst™ (AVA™) credential from the National Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts™ (NACVA^®).  Effective April 1, 2013, the AVA credential has merged with the Certified Valuation Analyst^® (CVA^®) credential, and Mr. Clinger will now hold the CVA credential.  The CVA credential is granted only to qualified individuals with considerable professional experience in the field of business valuation. Continue reading →

Myrtle Beach, SC, Orlando, FL, Washington, DC May 9, 2013—Highland Global Business Valuations, a premiere advisory firm offering business valuations and appraisals, is honored to announce that Digger Cartwright has released his latest novel entitled Conversations on the Bench, a motivational book inspired by Highland Global’s iconic spokesman, Sebastian G. Peréy, and founder, Robert M. Clinger III. Continue reading →

Myrtle Beach, SC, September 9, 2011—Highland Global  is pleased to announce the creation of the Sebastian G. Peréy Endowed Memorial Scholarship at Coastal Carolina University in honor of Highland Global’s long-time spokesman who passed away unexpectedly at his home on July 8, 2011  from a heart attack.

The scholarship has been established to assist students enrolled in the E. Craig Wall, Sr. College of Business Administration’s Economics program at Coastal Carolina University. Preference will be given to students who are enrolled full-time as a junior or senior, who are natives of South Carolina, who maintain a minimum of a 3.5 GPA, and who submit a personal statement about their goals and aspirations after graduation.

Sebastian was born on October 22, 1951 in Charleston, South Carolina. After graduating from Rivers High School in Charleston, Sebastian attended Loyola University in New Orleans for one year before transferring to Georgia State where received a B.A. in Economics (Class of 1974). After graduating from Georgia State, Sebastian spent his career working in the fields of finance and economics including positions at the Fulton County Tax Commission, CNS Federal Credit Union, the SBA and the South Carolina Employment Security Commission.

Robert M. Clinger III, founder of Highland Global, issued the following statement:

We were all deeply saddened by the recent loss of our good friend, Sebastian. He was a good man who had a tremendous positive influence on many people’s lives. He shared a great deal of wisdom, insight and lessons in life with all his friends. He had a big heart and was always willing to help and support his friends. He had a magnetic personality and an infectious laugh. Everyone who knew him can be thankful that they had the privilege of knowing him. He will never be forgotten by his friends and acquaintances.

While we remain deeply saddened by the passing of our colleague and good friend, we are pleased to announce the creation of this memorial scholarship in his honor and as a tribute to his contributions to and love for the study of economics. Sebastian was a mentor and a teacher, giving so many of his friends lessons in life and business—all those things you don’t learn in college. He always told you what you needed to hear; he wasn’t one to tell you what he thought you wanted to hear, like so many people do. We hope that this memorial scholarship will keep his spirit of helping others, his generosity, and his desire to impart knowledge and insight in life on his friends alive and have a positive impact on deserving economics students at Coastal Carolina University.

We recognize that times are tough, and the weak economy is certainly having its impact on everyone. For those who wish to contribute to this memorial, please give to the extent that you feel Sebastian had an impact on your life. Your contribution can be made to

Coastal Educational Foundation–Sebastian Peréy Memorial Scholarship
c/o Coastal Carolina University
Post Office Box 261954
Conway, SC 29528-6054.

Should you have any questions regarding this memorial scholarship, please contact us directly or the Office of Philanthropy at Coastal Carolina University. Thank you for your support of this important project.

Myrtle Beach, SC, Dallas, TX, Orlando, FL & Washington, D.C. July 12, 2011—Highland Global is sad to announce that long-time spokesman and colleague Sebastian G. Peréy passed away unexpectedly at his home on July 8, 2011 from a heart attack. He was 59 and had been Highland Global’s spokesman since the company’s inception in 2004.

Robert M. Clinger III, founder of Highland Global, issued the following statement:

I am deeply saddened by the passing of our colleague and good friend, Sebastian. He has been with me every step of the way as we’ve worked to build Highland Global into one of the leading business valuation and strategic advisory firms in the southeast. His support, encouragement, and confidence were always an inspiration to work harder for the betterment of the company and myself professionally. His insights and wisdom came in handy on so many occasions when I needed someone to bounce ideas off and strategize. He was there in the bad times,  when the rug got pulled out from us so many times early on, and he was there when things got better, always looking for ways to contribute and help grow the business. He always said it was a matter of perseverance. Indeed, it was.

He was a mentor and a teacher, giving me lessons in life and business along the way—all those things you don’t learn in college. He always told me what I needed to hear; he wasn’t one to tell me what he thought I wanted to hear, like so many people do. He was my biggest cheerleader. It wasn’t because he had to but because he believed in me and what I was doing with the company.

He was there when I ran for Horry County Council, and we made a good run at it and ran a good, clean campaign. But when we came up short in the votes and I was feeling down about it, he was the one who reminded me about that Teddy Roosevelt speech, The Man in the Arena, that I’m so fond of and that Nixon was fond of. I guess he probably got tired over the years of hearing me quote both of them, but if he did, he never said anything; he always just smiled when I’d start quoting them. The talk or pep rally, whatever you want to call it, did the trick and got me out of the doldrums I was in after losing the election. He told me I could hold my head high and be proud of the job we did and that I put myself out there for the public and all the criticism that sometimes comes along with that. He said I could be proud of doing better than anyone ever thought I would do in that election, particularly since I was only twenty-seven years old at the time and a newcomer to the political stage.

He was a good man who had a tremendous positive influence on so many people’s lives, including my own. I’m thankful that I had the privilege of knowing him, and I’m grateful for the wisdom he shared with me over the years. I will carry that with me through life. He will never be forgotten by anyone who has ever been involved with Highland Global, our associates or clients alike.

In the weeks ahead we will be exploring the establishment of a scholarship to memorialize Sebastian and his contributions to and love for the study of economics. We will certainly keep all of our friends, associates, and clients posted as to progress in this effort.

Myrtle Beach, SC, Dallas, TX, Orlando, FL & Washington, D.C. December 15, 2010—Highland Global Business Valuations announced today that its senior business appraiser and founder, Robert M. Clinger III, has participated in two separate on-line interviews for CompanyFounder.com.

The first interview for the Entrepreneur Maestro Series focuses on valuation and exit strategy issues for entrepreneurs. The roughly forty-five minute interview covered topics such as:

• Why should entrepreneurs care what the business is worth?
• How early should entrepreneurs start planning to maximize the value of their business?
• Which approach is most relevant for early stage businesses?
• What are the common exit strategies for business owners including, selling the company to another company or individual buyer?
• What is the difference between a financial buyer and a strategic buyer?
• How are entrepreneurs funding the startup and/or growth of their businesses these days?
• Is it possible to fund a business with money from your 401k?
• What is the status of the SBA lending program these days?

          The second interview focuses on the process of selling a privately-held business. The roughly  forty minute interview covered topics such as:

• Making the decision to sell.
• Identifying potential acquirers.
• Sending out non-confidential summaries.
• Preliminary due diligence.
• Receiving and analyzing LOIs from interested parties.
• Closing the deal.

          The complete interviews can be accessed from Highland Global’s website, www.HighlandGlobal.com, or www.CompanyFounder.com.