Life in the Witch City: Historic Charm, Corporate Innovation, and Eight Furry Paws

There is a distinct magic to living in Salem, Massachusetts. For Joseph Piemonte and Michaela Scutti, that magic isn’t just about the city’s infamous 17th-century history or the crisp Atlantic breeze—it’s about the life, career, and family they’ve built here, complete with two inseparable canine companions, Caddie and Buffett.

Nestled along the North Shore, Salem offers the perfect backdrop for a couple balancing cutting-edge careers in tech with a love for coastal, community-centric living.

Innovation by Day: Navigating the ConTech Ecosystem

While Salem is famous for its past, Joseph and Michaela are firmly focused on the future. Both work at the intersection of technology, architecture, and construction, driving digital transformation across the industry.

• Joseph brings his expertise to Autodesk, a global leader in software that helps people imagine, design, and create a better world—from towering skyscrapers to the very infrastructure that connects communities.

• Michaela operates in the same dynamic sphere at Arkance, a premier global partner dedicated to delivering leading-edge digital solutions and CAD/BIM expertise to the construction and manufacturing sectors.

Living in a town filled with beautifully preserved historic architecture serves as a daily, tangible reminder of why their work matters. Together, they are part of the modern tech wave reshaping how the physical world is designed and built, all while working from a city that has masterfully preserved its own built environment for centuries.

Adventure by Week: Life with Caddie and Buffett

When the laptops close and the workday ends, the real supervisors of the household take over. Caddie and Buffett, the couple’s two beloved dogs, are the undisputed center of Joseph and Michaela’s world.

Whether it's a brisk morning walk through local historic districts or an afternoon playing fetch, life revolves around keeping those four paws moving. Salem is an incredibly dog-friendly town, making it easy for the trio (or rather, quartet) to explore.

The Ultimate Dog-Friendly Backyard

For Joseph, Michaela, and the pups, home is the ultimate sanctuary. They love nothing more than spending hours playing with Caddie and Buffett right in their own backyard. It’s a space filled with energy, laughter, and a seemingly endless supply of tennis balls. Watching the dogs run, play, and exhaust themselves under the New England sky is the couple's favorite way to unwind and unplug.

Why Salem is Home

For Joseph and Michaela, Salem offers a rare quality of life. It’s a place where you can grab a coffee at a local cafe, walk past landmarks that predate the American Revolution, and head home to collaborate with global tech teams.

But at the end of the day, it isn't just the historic streets or the tech careers that make it special. It’s coming home to a vibrant, comfortable space where Caddie and Buffett are waiting at the door, ready for the next game of fetch.

In Salem, Joseph and Michaela have found more than just a place to live—they’ve engineered a perfect balance of innovation, history, and a whole lot of puppy love.