Tony Paustian has been working for 10 years to book movie stars, astronauts, musicians and others on a “shoestring budget” to come to West Des Moines once a year to inspire students and others at ciWeek, held each March at Des Moines Area Community College’s West Campus. 

Among the things Paustian, the campus provost, learned: Most stars are willing to give him a great deal on their speaking fees once they hear what the event is about, and they call their friends and find out how well the speakers are treated in the land of “Iowa Nice.”

“These people are coming for dirt-cheap rates because they believe in what they are doing. I got Fredo [Apollo 13 astronaut Fred Haise] at a fifth of what he usually charges. Last July, I was at an event in Tucson that he was at. We had coffee, and I talked about our event for half an hour, and next thing, he’s on the agenda.”

Another thing he learned: Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak is a “diva.” 

“We’ve had some divas in the past,” Paustian said. “Steve Wozniak [2012] was a case in point. Totally, man. 

“His people let us know that he needed in his room when he arrived two full-sized large bags of fiery hot Cheetos with lime. Well, we have the fiery hot Cheetos in Iowa, but here we don’t sell the ones with lime. So I had to have somebody ship me up from Dallas, Texas, two bags of fiery hot Cheetos with lime, both of which he ate in his room.”

Before or after his speech? “After.”

Woz wasn’t the only diva. “I’ve had a variety of things like that in the past,” Paustian said. 

Talking to Wozniak was interesting, Paustian added. “He’s a smart guy, but he sounds a lot like Sheldon Cooper of ‘Big Bang Theory.’ He’s an older version of Sheldon. He’s a genius. But I had to talk to him about him; otherwise, the conversation was going to stop.”

Paustian also has learned that once he gets someone, he can persuade them to come back — sometimes with their famous friends. “It’s late winter in Iowa, but once they’ve been here and left, they love the place. We treat them like gods. They love it. A lot of them call me and ask if they can come back.” 

When Paustian wanted “Star Trek” star Jonathan Frakes to come, he called Frakes’ colleague, makeup artist Howard Berger, who had already been here. Berger made the contact with Frakes, who called LeVar Burton, another “Star Trek” star who had already been to ciWeek, in 2014. Burton raved. Berger signed up for ciWeek.