TPA’s Volunteer Ambassadors play major role in assisting visitors from around the world
National Volunteer Week highlights the Airport's team of more than 200 Volunteer Ambassadors who staff information desks, assist passengers and help tourists looking to learn about the Tampa Bay area.
Lisa Spiva retired years ago but wakes up every Thursday excited for her shift at Tampa International Airport.
The former flight attendant fell in love with the aviation business after an exciting career working for Eastern Airlines. Now she's still assisting travelers as part of Tampa International Airport’s Volunteer Ambassador program, which TPA is highlighting this week as part of National Volunteer Week from April 20 to 26.
“Once you’ve been with the airlines, you kind of stick around it,” said Spiva, who missed helping the traveling public after leaving Eastern.
Spiva signed up to volunteer in 2012, shortly after the Ambassador program was created. Now, more than a decade later, she’s one of the Airport’s most senior volunteers.
“I’m a retired person but you don’t want to just sit home and do nothing," she said. "Thursday is my day that I’m out the door in the morning and I know this is what I’m going to be doing.”
You can usually find Spiva working her Thursday shifts at the information desk in the Red Baggage Claim area near the Yeager Elevators.
She often spends her shifts alongside David Lopez, who has logged an amazing 3,000 hours since he first started volunteering with the program.
“I love working with Lisa," Lopez said. “She’s one of the best and has a great way with passengers.”
During their most recent shift, the two teamed up to help more than 100 passengers before lunchtime.
“You just talk to anybody and everybody,” Spiva said. “This morning, we helped a gentleman find his disabled friend who was coming off a flight in a wheelchair.”
While many interactions involve passengers looking for directions, Spiva said she loves recommending restaurants or fun places to visit throughout the Tampa Bay area.
“You have to know your town,” she said. “I love to suggest for people to go to enjoy a Cuban sandwich in Ybor City and then to take the free streetcar downtown. There are a lot of ways to have fun that don’t cost a lot of money.”
The Airport's Volunteer Ambassador Program is so popular there is currently a waiting list to join. The team of around 234 volunteers logged an incredible 66,000 hours helping passengers in just the first three months of 2025.
As a thank you for all the time they devote to TPA, volunteers get free Airport parking and have the opportunity to participate in familiarization tours of various Tampa Bay attractions so they can be more knowledgeable when sharing recommendations with visitors.
A special Volunteer Ambassador social is held each summer for the entire group to have a fun night out together. It’s TPA’s way of thanking the volunteers for their many hours of service to the Airport.
“You make forever friendships here,” Spiva said with her signature smile. “It’s a fun day that goes by quickly, and that’s why I keep coming back.”
