Local business leaders gathered in Ann Arbor Friday, Nov. 6 for the unveiling of the 2009 Deals of the Year.

The annual awards, presented by AnnArbor.com’s Business Review, highlights the best of local business, collectively showing the power behind the individual successes in our region.

Held at Four Points Sheraton, the evening included cocktails, dinner, an awards ceremony and entertainment.

Top honors went to the University of Michigan's purchase of the Pfizer site on Plymouth Road as its Deal of the Year. U-M is already a top employer in the county and it attracts $1 billion in research funding. With the purchase of the campus, U-M has set the goal of doubling that funding in coming years, and more employment will follow.

Photos by Angela Cesere | AnnArbor.com

Stewart Beal of Beal Properties with Kathlynn Macker.

From left: Scott and Pam Ossenheimer of Ann Arbor Offset, Cathy Gallagher and John Thorhauer of Cedars of Dexter.

From right: Rebecca Lopez Kriss of the Chamber of Commerce, Ted Dacko of Health Media, Rob Guenzel, Washtenaw County Administrator raise glasses for a toast.

From left: Angie Merkel, Jeff Blackman, Shannon Brown, Joel VanHaaften, Lisa Bargende and Jeff Dwoskin of ForeSee Results.

From left: Peter Green and Yvett Green of U-M Solar Center and Cindy Gills of SRT Solutions.

From left: Judy Spaly - Ness, Yan Ness, Jason Yaeger and Nicole Deja of Online Tech.