October 2025
Honoring Longtime Navigator Volunteer Jo Van Loo
As Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport celebrates the 25th anniversary of its Navigator volunteer program in 2025, we are proud to highlight Jo Van Loo, one of our most dedicated and inspiring volunteers.
Jo began volunteering in 2005 and has been a warm and welcoming presence at the airport on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. She has contributed more than 5,000 hours helping travelers with directions, information and friendly conversation.
Before joining the Navigator program, Jo taught primary school in Phoenix’s Alhambra School District, where many of her students were English language learners.
Outside the airport, Jo is a talented watercolor and fabric artist. She holds a unique honor from Uganda’s Busoga Kingdom, where she was named Nakiranda, meaning “sister of Kiranda.” The honor came through her brother’s work and their close ties with a local family.
As we celebrate 25 years of the Navigator program, which has grown to include more than 1,600 volunteers and over 1.6 million hours of service, Jo stands out as one of 27 current volunteers who have served for more than 20 years.
To learn more about the Navigator program or how to get involved, visit skyharbor.com/volunteer/navigators.