Phipps is the fourth generation to work in the family business, and he jokes that his first words were, “Good morning, this is Phipps Realty. How can I help you?” In college, he studied journalism and worked for big names like NBC and USA Today. He got his real estate license as a backup. When his grandfather died suddenly, he joined the family business. “It was a path I chose, and I never felt pressured,” he says.

MEDIA MINUTE: Applying his media expertise to real estate, Phipps helped revamp his company’s Web site and create individual sites for listings of $800,000 or more. He also stars in “Rhode Island’s Real Estate Minute,” which airs on local TV.