I called our gracious forum hosts, Team Estrogen, "cos they're in Portland! And they had great info on the local scene, the proprietress gets her wheels built at Bike Gallery in Beaverton, really pleased with their work, also recommended River City bike shop and theres a website, bicyclewheels.com for a wheelbuilder named Jack who is in Portland. Call T Estrogen up, they'll be glad to help you. She had other resources too, but I was getting overwhelmed.
The shop you like for wheels will probably be a shop you'll like for a new bike, if you want to go to steel after all. Scope these places out.

missliz