How do I find an equity partner with sales/maketing/business experience?

I joined biznik for a rather specific reason...to find a equity partner for a new business. As my profile notes, I'm a doctor...great background if you need to treat a heart attack, no so great if you are trying to start a completely 'non-medical' business.

A bit of background is in order. The business idea is to market/sell a patent pending device that captures hair at the drain level, grinds it into tiny pieces, then sends it on into the plumbing with normal use. It fits into the drain orifice of your tub, sink, shower (no retrofit or need to access plumbing). It collects hair that would normally pass a drain cover and cause plumbing clogs (we have all had to use the 'plumber's snake' or chemical drain cleaners to clean the drain when it backs up leaving you in ankle deep in gray, soapy water). The real trick is that, unlike your run of the mill drain cover that you have to clean of collected hair after each use, you simply step-on or push the device twice at the end of your shower/use, the beginning of your next shower/use, or, frankly, whenever you remember. The simple pushing motion engages a novel device that takes that long hair and turns it into tiny chunks that simply wash away...too short to clog plumbing, but short enough that you don't have to clean them away.

There are lots of environmental, health, economic, public safety issues that this deals with, but I'll spare the casual reader the details. We (my business partner is a mechanical engineer) have applied for all the necessary patent protection, done all the prototyping and testing, and generally developed it as far as we can. While there was general interest in the plumbing manufacturing industry in licensing the product, it seemed we were required to sign away our first born (and then some) to cinch a deal. At that point, it occurred to us that making a go of this on our own was the best way to get a good product to market and increase its value overall.

Hence, back to the subject of the post, we are searching for someone with the skill set to help take that step into the real world of sales and marketing. Ideally, such a partner would have experience in the home improvement market and be based in the Northwest (we live in Portland, OR). Such a partner would be willing to accept equity in the company as initial compensation. Perhaps more importantly, such a partner would be committed to a greater good (ie producing a quality product with an unassailable 'up-side'), willing to work hard toward a vision, and able to help raise venture capital...all, admittedly, a very tall order...but a tall order with amazing potential!