Love at Exit 42
A heartfelt romance shaped by Southern charm, unexpected detours, and the possibility of a new beginning.
IT Systems Architect • Author • Aviation Enthusiast
Christopher Joffson
Welcome! I am an IT Systems Architect, author of contemporary romance novels, and aviation enthusiast. Whether I am designing enterprise technology solutions or writing stories about ordinary people finding extraordinary love, I enjoy creating things that connect with people.
Published Novels
Books by Christopher Joffson
Character-driven contemporary romance inspired by aviation, travel, memorable American settings, and the possibility of finding love in unexpected places.
The Chief Pilot's Christmas
A holiday romance set against the busy world of commercial aviation and Charlotte Douglas International Airport.
Runway to Redemption
An opposites-attract romance about second chances, personal growth, and aviation.
Freight Dog Express
A character-driven story inspired by the demanding and colorful world of cargo aviation.
About
Technology, aviation, and storytelling
I am an IT Systems Architect, author, and aviation enthusiast whose career and creative work have been shaped by curiosity, problem-solving, and a lifelong interest in people.
Although technology, aviation, and fiction may appear to be very different fields, each one depends on understanding how people think, work, communicate, and respond when plans change.
Technology
Technology has been a constant throughout my professional career. Today, I work as an IT Systems Architect, designing and supporting enterprise technology solutions that help organizations operate reliably, securely, and efficiently.
I enjoy solving complex problems, collaborating across technical and business teams, and continually expanding my knowledge. This website is one of my favorite recent projects because it combines cloud architecture, web development, and creative design.
Aviation
Aviation has been one of the defining influences in my life. My background includes commercial aviation, flight instruction, and airport operations, giving me an appreciation for both the technical precision of flying and the people who make the aviation system work.
Those experiences continue to shape my outlook and inspire my fiction. Airports, airplanes, freight operations, pilots, and aviation professionals often become more than settings in my stories—they become part of the characters' journeys.
Writing
I write contemporary romance centered on relatable working people, unexpected relationships, personal growth, and second chances. My stories often unfold in airports, small Southern towns, along highways, and in other familiar places where ordinary moments can change the direction of a life.
My goal is to create characters readers care about and stories that leave them smiling, hopeful, and willing to believe that kindness and love can still appear when they are least expected.
Beyond the job titles
I live in North Carolina and continue to explore new technology, study cloud computing, follow aviation, and develop new stories. Road trips, distinctive communities, airports, and everyday conversations frequently provide the spark for my next idea.
Professional Experience
Enterprise technology leadership and architecture
I bring more than 13 years of experience leading and supporting technology initiatives across local government, education, healthcare services, and aviation environments. My work focuses on enterprise governance, strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, technology evaluation, and translating complex needs into practical solutions.
Areas of Expertise
- Enterprise Governance
- Strategic Planning
- Stakeholder Engagement
- Executive Communication
- Technology Evaluation
- Cloud and Infrastructure Modernization
- Vendor and Budget Management
- Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery
Current Focus
In my current role as an I&T Systems Architect with the City of Charlotte, I help guide enterprise technology governance, evaluate technology investments, develop standards and recommendations, and collaborate with departments, vendors, technical teams, and executive leadership.
I was nominated for a 2026 City of Charlotte Govie Award for leadership supporting the successful coordination of Spectrum Center technology upgrades completed before the start of the NBA season.
I&T Systems Architect
Guide enterprise technology governance, evaluate software solutions and vendor proposals, prepare strategic recommendations for City leadership, and improve standards and processes across enterprise technology initiatives.
IT Director
Directed county-wide IT operations, supervised staff and vendors, managed budgets and contracts, and led the migration from on-premises email infrastructure to Microsoft 365.
IT Manager
Managed IT operations supporting approximately 300 users across 18 departments, including mission-critical public safety services. Led infrastructure planning, disaster recovery, procurement, and a cloud-hosted website migration.
Technology Support and Engineering
Progressed through technical support and IT engineering roles with Monarch, Stanly Community College, and Stanly County Schools, providing advanced support, infrastructure coordination, documentation, deployment, and help desk leadership.
Education
- M.S., Information Technology Management — Western Governors University
- B.A., Business Information Systems — Ashford University, Magna Cum Laude
- A.A.S., Computer Information Technology — Stanly Community College
Aviation Background
- Interim Airport Manager, Anson County Airport
- Commercial Aircraft Pilot
- Flight Instructor
- FAA Commercial Pilot and Flight Instructor certifications
Current Projects
What I am building now
Writing
- Preparing Love Under the Northern Lights for literary agent and publisher submission
- Developing The Devil in Uptown
- Developing Out of My League, an Arizona-set contemporary romance
Technology
- Expanding and refining this AWS-hosted website
- Continuing hands-on cloud architecture study
- Improving front-end web development skills
Professional Development
- Continuing enterprise systems architecture and technology leadership
- Exploring practical uses for cloud services and automation
- Building projects that connect technical learning with real-world results
On the Writing Desk
Coming Soon
Preparing for Submission
Love Under the Northern Lights
A romantic journey set against the rugged beauty, close-knit communities, and changing seasons of Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The completed manuscript is being prepared for consideration by literary agents and publishers.
Currently in Progress
The Devil in Uptown
A darker story blending romance, suspense, ambition, and danger in the heart of Charlotte.
In Development
Out of My League
An unlikely Arizona romance between a successful Phoenix-area real estate executive and a coffee shop barista rebuilding his life after an unexpected career setback.
Contact
Let’s stay connected
For professional inquiries, literary discussions, questions about my work, or simply to connect, feel free to reach out.
Built on AWS
A personal website and a hands-on cloud project
I designed, built, deployed, and maintain this website using Amazon Web Services, including Amazon S3, CloudFront, Route 53, and AWS Certificate Manager, along with HTML and CSS.
The project brings together two things I enjoy: creating something useful for people and learning how the technology behind it works.
“Great stories and great technology have something in common, they both begin and end with people.”
— Christopher Joffson