Marketing maven: Morgan Pivovarnik 

School/College: Klein College of Media and Communication 
Degree/Year: BA, advertising, 2019 
Hometown: Scranton, Pennsylvania 
Current Job Title: Manager of brand and creative 
Current Employer: Philadelphia 76ers 

Most people wouldn’t see much connection between the Philadelphia 76ers, Web3 and retro video games. But that’s why Morgan Pivovarnik, KLN ’19, has quickly risen toward the top of the NBA franchise’s creative department. In just six years with the organization, Morgan has gone from designing internal slide decks to orchestrating major, award-winning brand marketing campaigns for the storied NBA franchise. 

Morgan Pivovarnik holds a basketball on the 76ers court.

A Spectrum of ideas. In 2024, the 76ers honored the former Philadelphia Spectrum with their City Edition uniform, complete with color schemes and fonts reminiscent of their 20th-century arena. But Morgan took the idea to another level by collaborating with 76ers’ partner Crypto.com to launch an online, arcade-style video game that let fans shoot hoops in the former arena, competing for prizes while also racking up nostalgia points. For another innovative campaign, Morgan orchestrated a crossover with Campbell’s Company, placing the 76ers 2025–2026 Hardwood Classic Edition brand marks on 25th-anniversary edition bags of Goldfish Crackers to honor the 2001 Eastern Conference Finals Championship.

Temple transformation. Growing up in Northeast Pennsylvania, Morgan knew she wanted to go to school in a big city and pursue a high-powered corporate career. Temple proved a perfect fit, as Morgan benefited from experiences like her capstone course with Klein Assistant Professor Stacey Harpster in which students had to put together campaign pitches for real-world organizations. Morgan also packed her undergraduate schedule with graphic design internships—including at the Philadelphia Department of Public Health and Digitas Health.  

Going pro. As a child, Morgan was more of a dance and theater kid than a hooper. But an opportunity with the 76ers intrigued Morgan after she saw untapped potential in fans’ deep emotional connections to the franchise. She now pulls from storytelling strategies in other industries—from cosmetics to music to museums—to strengthen that bond.

The Maxey Museum. Perhaps no project is more indicative of Morgan’s creative style than the Maxey Museum, a short-term installation in Center City’s Four Seasons Hotel designed to keep 76ers All-Star guard Tyrese Maxey at home in advance of impending free agency in 2024. When Maxey and his family walked through the exhibit, they were met with visuals tracking his athletic journey, hundreds of letters from fans and a surprise visit from 76ers legend Julius Erving. Maxey later re-signed with the 76ers.

The Philadelphia 76ers basketball team logo

Photography by Ryan S. Brandenberg

30 Under 30 honoree Morgan Pivovarnik

“I have absolutely just fallen in love with sports. I think that my success comes from bringing a blend of brand strategy and cultural fluency and emotional storytelling that really pushes sports creative beyond the expected.” 

—Morgan Pivovarnik
Manager of brand and creative

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