Previously, he directed The Center for Continuous Quality Improvement at Milwaukee Area Technical College where, through the Office of the President, he was responsible for the internal quality improvement process at the college, the college's Systems Thinking/Organizational Learning efforts, and was the architect and facilitator of the strategic planning process. In conjunction with the WorkForce Development Division of MATC, he consulted with business and industry, government, and educational institutions that have identified the importance of becoming more effective in meeting the needs of their customers.

Rieley earned a doctorate degree in Organizational Effectiveness, and a B.S. in Business Administration. He was the president of a successful plastics manufacturing company for over 20 years. After selling his company in 1987, he began to work with organizations in the area of innovation and business organization. In 1990 he accepted an offer to come to MATC to develop the concept that became The Center for Continuous Quality Improvement. In 1997, he accepted an offer to join the Knowledge Services Competency Center.